MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-1

Assignment 1 (8%)
Exercise Assessment
In the process of doing the exercises in the workbook, you will have completed the
work needed for Assignment 1. It is recommended you review your work before
submitting. Make sure you save your final work with the following naming
convention: MNGT2131_AF1_firstname_lastname.docx. Use the Assignment
Submission Tool to submit to your Open Learning Faculty Member.

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A1-2 Assignment 1

Exercise 1-1: A Person Whose Performance Could Be Improved

Step 1: Select a Person

Think of a co-worker or subordinate whose work performance (by your standards)
could be improved. Overall, he or she may be an average, a below average, or even
an above average performer.
The person you select should:
 be an immediate subordinate, a co-worker, or a person one level in the
organization beneath your own.
 not be close to retirement, a part-time employee, a temporary employee, or a
person whose performance is at or near the “bottom of the barrel.”
 hold a job with which you are familiar, e.g., you may have held the job
yourself or you may have supervised the job for a long enough period that
you have a good understanding of its day-to-day requirements.

Step 2: Provide Reasons for Performance

In the space provided on the next few pages, present your analysis of the situation by
listing in point form up to six reasons explaining why the person performs as he or
she does.
There is no set of right or wrong reasons. This is to be your personal assessment of
the situation.

Step 3: Weight the Reasons

Beneath each of the spaces allocated for a reason, there are three scales:
 The first asks you to what degree you feel this particular reason contributes to
the person’s level of motivation.
 The second asks you whether you feel the reason you have listed suggests the
jobholder is to some degree at fault or personally responsible for the below-
par performance.
 The third asks you to assess the degree to which the organization's
management system (e.g., the nature of the job, supervision, the reward
system) is responsible.
For any given reason, it is possible that the reason implies that either the person or
the management system or both are responsible for the below par performance.

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-3

Step 4: Provide Examples

Provide examples that support the weighting you gave your reason by describing a
few specific things that the person actually does or does not do that lead you to see
him or her as not performing as well as he or she might. Be as specific as possible
and try to describe three or more things. For example, you might write things like
“he arrives late for work” or “she complains about her job.”

Step 5: Identify Solutions with No Limitations

Assume that you are in a position of authority and have unlimited resources in the
organization. Recommend a solution by describing precisely what you would do to
improve the situation. Do not limit yourself in any way to what is possible in the
particular situation or the organization. Assume that you and the organization have
whatever resources and rights that you need to do anything that you feel is
warranted. Of course, in reality this is not likely to be the case.

Step 6: Identify Solutions with Practical Limitations

Now let's be practical. You probably don't have total power and you may not be the
person's supervisor. However, assume that you are the supervisor. Given the practical
realities of your organization, what solutions, if any, would you recommend to correct
the problem? If you feel that your hands are completely tied and that you could do
nothing useful, say so. You do not have to recommend a change.

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A1-4 Assignment 1

Reason 1:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the below par performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Examples:

Solutions with No Limitations:

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-5

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Reason 2:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the below par performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Examples:

Solutions with No Limitations:

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A1-6 Assignment 1

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Reason 3:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the less than excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible for the less than excellent
performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Examples:

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-7

Solutions with No Limitations:

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Reason 4:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the less than excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible for the less than excellent
performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

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A1-8 Assignment 1

Examples:

Solutions with No Limitations:

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Reason 5:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the less than excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible for the less than excellent
performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-9

1 2 3 4 5

Examples:

Solutions with No Limitations:

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Reason 6:

1. To what degree does this particular reason contribute to the person’s level of motivation?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

2. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the person himself or herself is
responsible for the less than excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

3. To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system (the job
design, reward system, supervision, etc.) is responsible for the less than excellent

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A1-10 Assignment 1

performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Examples:

Solutions with No Limitations:

Solutions with Practical Limitations:

Step 7: Evaluate performance

Now answer the following questions:

1. How does the person’s performance compare to the performance of others at his or her
same level or holding the same job? Compared to other jobholders at this same level, this
person’s performance is:

WELL ABOVE AVERAGE ( )

SOMEWHAT ABOVE AVERAGE ( )

ABOUT AVERAGE ( )

SOMEWHAT BELOW AVERAGE ( )

WELL BELOW AVERAGE ( )

2. This person could improve:

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-11

IN ALL AREAS OF HIS OR HER JOB ( )

IN MOST, BUT NOT ALL AREAS ( )

IN SEVERAL AREAS ( )

IN JUST ONE OR TWO AREAS ( )

3. How long has the person’s performance been less than excellent?

MORE THAN 1 YEAR ( )

FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR ( )

FOR ABOUT 3 TO 6 MONTHS ( )

FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS ONLY ( )

4. Indicate how the person’s general level of performance compares to your own general
level of performance by checking the scale for the person and for yourself.

PERSON MYSELF OVERALL PERFORMANCE IS:

( ) ( ) Well above average

( ) ( ) Somewhat above average
( ) ( ) About average
( ) ( ) Somewhat below average
( ) ( ) Well below average

5. What is your relationship to the person?

Have you held the same position? YES ( ) NO ( )

Are you the person’s supervisor? YES ( ) NO ( )

Are you a personal friend? YES ( ) NO ( )

Is the person MALE ( ) FEMALE ( )

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A1-12 Assignment 1

Exercise 1-2: A Motivated Time at Work

Step 1: Identify a Time of High Motivation

Think of a time on a job when you were highly motivated or when you were more
motivated than usual. You may have willingly taken work home with you, worked
long hours, arrived at work early, left late, taken short or no breaks, and worked to
or near your maximum effort.

If necessary, you can select only part of a job. In other words there may have been
other parts of the job about which you were not enthusiastic. If this is the case, focus
only on the part of the job that did motivate you.

The time period you choose should be one during which you were working full-time
and had been for more than six months. However, this does not mean that you were
continuously enthusiastic about all aspects of your job during that period.

Step 2: Write a Description

Write a brief description of the job (or the part of the job) and the length of time
that you held it.

Step 3: Describe Reasons for Your Motivation

Describe the reasons that you feel were responsible for your enthusiasm about the job.
Try to remember what it was that was affecting you so strongly. Give your reasons
weights from 1 to 5 to signify the degree to which you feel they contributed to your
motivation. (1 = Low Importance, 5 = Very Important).

Reason 1:

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-13

Reason 2:

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 3:

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 4:

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Step 4:
Indicate your level of performance at the time compared to others at your level in
the organization.

WELL ABOVE AVERAGE ( )

SOMEWHAT ABOVE AVERAGE ( )

ABOUT AVERAGE ( )

SOMEWHAT BELOW AVERAGE ( )

WELL BELOW AVERAGE ( )

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A1-14 Assignment 1

Exercise 1-3: An Unmotivated Time at Work

Step 1: Identify Time Period of Unmotivated Performance

Think of a time in your present job or during a previous job during which your own
performance could have been improved.
You may select a part of a job rather than the whole job. It should be a job that you
held for a minimum of six months, but you do not have to have been continuously
unenthusiastic about all aspects of the job during this time.

Step 2: Describe the Job

Briefly describe the job (or the part of the job) and the length of time that you
held it.

Step 3: Describe Reasons for Poor Motivation

Describe up to six reasons for your dampened enthusiasm about the job.

Reason 1:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-15

Reason 2:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 3:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.

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A1-16 Assignment 1

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 4:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 5:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

1 2 3 4 5

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?

NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-17

1 2 3 4 5

Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.

LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT

1 2 3 4 5

Reason 6:

To what degree does this particular reason indicate that you were responsible for the less than
excellent performance?
NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH
1 2 3 4 5
To what degree does this particular reason indicate that the management system was
responsible?
NOT AT ALL ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY MUCH
1 2 3 4 5
Weight the reasons to indicate their importance in contributing to your lack of motivation.
LOW IMPORTANCE ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) VERY IMPORTANT
1 2 3 4 5

Step 6: Further Questions

Now answer the following questions.

1. Indicate your level of performance compared to others at your level in the organization.
My performance was:
WELL ABOVE AVERAGE ( )
SOMEWHAT ABOVE AVERAGE ( )
ABOUT AVERAGE ( )
SOMEWHAT BELOW AVERAGE ( )
WELL BELOW AVERAGE ( )
2. Could your performance have improved:
IN ALL AREAS OF HIS OR HER JOB ( )

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A1-18 Assignment 1

IN MOST, BUT NOT ALL AREAS ( )

IN SEVERAL AREAS ( )
IN JUST ONE OR TWO AREAS ( )
3. For how long was your performance less than excellent?
MORE THAN 1 YEAR ( )
FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR ( )
FOR ABOUT 3 TO 6 MONTHS ( )
FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS ONLY ( )

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-19

Exercise 1-4: Classifying the causes you listed in Exercises 1-1

and 1-3
Step 1: Classify the Reasons
In Exercise 1-1, you listed up to six reasons why a co-worker or subordinate’s
performance was sub-standard and in Exercise 1-3 you analyzed your own performance.
Classify each reason as either Dispositional or Situational and total the number of each
type. For reasons which are both dispositional and situational, enter the number twice.
Step 2: Total the Classified Reasons
Put your totals in the table below by listing the number of each reason in the correct box.
If for example, you had listed “laziness” as the first reason, put a checkmark under
“dispositional.” If you listed “boring job” as the second cause, put a checkmark
beside reason 2 under “situational.”
If one of your reasons seems to indicate both situational and dispositional causes,
put a checkmark in both boxes.
Total the number of checkmarks in each column under “dispositional” and “situational.”

Exercise 1-4: Attributions Made About a Co-worker’s and One’s Own Performance

Dispositional Situational

EXERCISE 1-1 Reason 1 ___ ___

CO-WORKER
Reason 2 ___ ___

Reason 3 ___ ___

Reason 4 ___ ___

Reason 5 ___ ___

Reason 6 ___ ___

TOTAL

EXERCISE 1-3 SELF Reason 1 ___ ___

Reason 2 ___ ___

Reason 3 ___ ___

Reason 4 ___ ___

Reason 5 ___ ___

Reason 6 ___ ___

TOTAL

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A1-20 Assignment 1

Exercise 1-5: Classifying Solutions to Performance Problems

This exercise is designed to give you a feel for the types of solutions made by
administrators about the sub-standard performance of their co-workers and
subordinates.
In Exercise 1-l, you were asked to make two sets of recommendations for improving
the situation. The first set assumed complete freedom of action. The second assumed
the constraints that you experience in your workplace.
Now, we would like you to classify each set of recommendations as either
controlling, redesigning, or a mixture of both. Look over your recommendations in
Exercise 1-1 and underline those elements that suggest controlling the co-worker or
subordinate. Then circle the portions that suggest redesigning the job, the reward
system, or changing the leadership style or another aspect of the way work is done
and organized.
In the spaces below, estimate the proportion of each type found in your original
recommendations (e.g., if your recommendations were predominantly controlling,
put 100% on the first line and 0% on the second; if you had roughly an equal amount
of each, put 50% on both lines).

NO PRACTICAL
LIMITATIONS LIMITATIONS

% Controlling Solution Ideas

% Redesigning Solution Ideas

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MNGT 2131: Motivation and Productivity A1-21

Exercise 1-6: Types of Situational Attributions

This exercise is also a follow-up to Exercises 1-2 and 1-3. However, this time the goal
is different. We want to examine the types of situational attributions made in
Exercises 1-2 and 1-3 as a means of explaining why you will study the topics found
in the other five units of the course.
After doing the exercise, you will be shown the summary results from other
administrators who have completed this exercise.

Step 1: Categorize Situational Attributions

Begin by looking at the reasons you listed in Exercise 1-2 explaining the factors for a
period of above-standard performance on your part. Focus only on the situational
attributions. Do not try to classify the dispositional attributions. For each different
situational attribution that you have listed, find the category among those listed on
the next page that best fits it. Write the number of the reason (from Exercise 1-2) on
the line next to the category.
For example, if for your third reason you wrote that “the job was very interesting,”
you would use the “Job Itself” category, and write “3” on the line for that category. If
for the second reason you wrote that “I was given clear goals,” you would write a
“2” next to the “Goals” category.
You will probably find that some of your reasons fit more than one of the listed
categories. In that case, write their numbers in all of the categories that seem
appropriate. If you find that your reason doesn't really fit any of the listed categories,
write its number in the “other” category. It is very important that you do not add
new reasons to your original list of reasons. If you do so, you will undermine the
learning that this exercise is designed to provide for you.

Step 2:
Next, look over the situational attributions that you listed in Exercise 1-3 for a period
when you were performing below standard. As before, put the numbers of each
reason into one or more of the categories listed on the next page, but under the
column headed “Exercise 1-3.”
Again, take care to check only those categories that correspond to reasons that you
listed when you originally did Exercise 1-3. Do not list new reasons even if new ones
now make sense to you.

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A1-22 Assignment 1

Exercise 1-2 Exercise 1-3

REASONS WHY PEOPLE PERFORM WELL REASONS WHY PEOPLE PERFORM

POORLY

SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR

 good communicator  poor communicator

 focuses on the positive  focuses on the negative

REWARDS REWARDS

 pay was good  pay was inequitable

 excellent benefits  poor benefits

JOB ITSELF JOB ITSELF

 work was interesting  work was boring

 work was challenging  overload assigned

GOALS GOALS

 clear objectives  unclear objectives

 achievable goals  unachievable goals

FEEDBACK FEEDBACK

 given good information  little or no information

on performance
 information was
 information was timely inaccurate

DECISION MAKING DECISION MAKING

 was involved in decisions  not involved in decisions

 my ideas were used  my ideas were not used

CO-WORKERS CO WORKERS

 shared ideas  competitive

 positive attitudes  low output norms

REASONS THAT DON’T FIT REASONS THAT DON’T

OTHER CATEGORIES FIT OTHER CATEGORIES

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