Good Organizational Design for Bad Motivational Dispositions?

Abstract

The situationist approach suggests designing a good organizational context. The individual difference approach concentrates on the selection of employees with good motivational dispositions. We follow an interactionist approach which has been rarely applied in the field of helping and sharing behaviors. It combines organizational design with personnel selection. We draw on selfdetermination theory to specify the determinants of interaction between organizational design and motivational dispositions. Our propositions are tested with a vignette study. The results show that the organizational context is the strongest predictor of helping and sharing behaviors. Nevertheless, motivational dispositions play an important role by acting as perceptual filters. In a good organizational setting even individuals with a «bad motivational disposition» can be motivated to cooperate in a good-spirited way. Helping and sharing behaviors -the essence of team work and organizational success -are to a great part intrinsically motivated. How can organizations influence intrinsic motivation in a predictable way? Different research approaches give different answers: The situationist approach suggests designing a good organizational context. The individual difference approach concentrates on the selection of employees with good motivational dispositions. We follow an interactionist approach which has been rarely applied in the field of helping and sharing behaviors. It combines organizational design with personnel selection. We draw on selfdetermination theory to specify the determinants of interaction between organizational design and motivational dispositions. Our propositions are tested with a vignette study. The results show that the organizational context is the strongest predictor of helping and sharing behaviors. Nevertheless, motivational dispositions play an important role by acting as perceptual filters. In a good organizational setting even individuals with a «bad motivational disposition» can be motivated to cooperate in a good-spirited way.Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.

Behavioral Effects of Sustainability‐Oriented Incentive Systems

“…We used an eight‐item scale based on the Rost et al . () measure of knowledge sharing and the Rost et al . () measure of helping co‐workers to measure employee cooperation .…”

“…() measure of knowledge sharing and the Rost et al . () measure of helping co‐workers to measure employee cooperation . Example items include ‘I would share my expertise with my supervisor’ and ‘I would support colleagues if they face unwarranted criticism’.…”

Leadership and Volunteer Motivation

“…In contrast, individuals with a control-oriented personality tend to perceive external events as pressuring and controlling (Deci & Ryan, 1985); they interpret events as policing (Soenens, Berzonsky, Vansteenkiste, Beyers, & Goossens, 2005) and chronically perceive pressure from the environment (Rost, Weibel, & Osterloh, 2010). Control orientation has been found to be related to controlled forms of motivation (Kwan et al, 2011;, and a feeling of being driven by others' expectations (Deponte, 2004).…”