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Application of the Motivational Theories
Question #1
My cousin once promised to buy me a present if I score good grades in school. I was excited about his promise, and I kept reminding him every time we met. My goal was therefore to score the highest possible grades. My motivation was to get the present. The motivation was extrinsically driven. I strived to work hard, change my attitude toward subjects which I thought they were difficult and sought assistance from teachers as well as friends. Following my behavioral change, my performance was exemplary with highest possible grades in all subjects. My cousin kept his promise, and I got the present.
Question #2
Pay-for-performance is advantageous in that it is a fair method that benefits both the employer and employee. As the employee put more effort to earn more, the employer also benefits from increased production. The method helps to improve individual productivity and performance. Employees are more like to it encourages employees to focus on the actions they need to take to improve if this is associated with pay. The method is one of the best methods of improving poor performance. By rewarding high performance, an organization can retain talented employees. Employee’s contribution is rewarded with something that is tangible. The reward scheme provides a direct incentive to the worker to attain defined goals. Despite its advantages, the reward scheme has some disadvantages.

If managers or supervisors set goals that are too hard to achieve, employees may become de-motivated. The approach also compromises teamwork. If not operated fairly, it might subject the organization to challenges of equal costly pay since it reduces pay equity. The reward is too narrowly focused since it is meant for short-term goals that can be quantified. Since it emphasizes financial rewards, the performance appraisal can be significantly affected since there is little effort toward developmental needs (Callan).

Question #3
My motivation to complete college degree is influenced my ability to satisfy other needs. I believe I have fulfilled biological and physiological needs, safety needs, and recently love and belongingness needs. Currently, I am in the hierarchy of love and belongingness needs. I believe I have just fulfilled a strong sense of connection, intimacy, friendship, and family. My motivation is therefore to achieve the next level of esteem needs where completion of college degree is one of them. With a college degree, it will be key in helping me to attain a sense of dignity, independence, mastery, and achievement. Maslow’s assumptions, however, do not hold in my case since I achieved some levels earlier than others. Additionally, some of the levels placed on a higher level by Maslow appear on my lower level of priority needs, while some that were placed on the lower level appears on my higher level of needs.

Question #4
Type J firms emphasize collective decision making more than individual decision making. Group decision making encourages synergy among the members as opposed to individual decision making. Through questioning, discussion, and collaboration the members can come up with robust decisions. There is a higher chance of acceptability of decisions made as a group than those made by individuals. Those taking part in group decision making can share information among themselves thus widening the scope. Sharing information help members to clarify issues, increase their understanding, and navigate toward a collective action (Lumen). Group decision-making, however, is disadvantageous in that it diffuses responsibility leading to lack of accountability. Unlike individual decision-making, group decision making is less efficient since members may take long arguing, discussing, and evaluating alternatives. The process may lead to groupthink leading to loss of independent thinking, uniqueness, and creativity. Group decision is expensive about the time, man-hours, energy, and money involved (Chand).

Works cited
Callan, John. “The Advantages and Disadvantages of Performance Related Pay.” SFA, 26 Jan. 2016. HYPERLINK “http://ibecsfa.newsweaver.ie/ibecsfa/1g0w5kmu6gz?a=5&p=49763075&t=28575178” ibecsfa.newsweaver.ie/ibecsfa/1g0w5kmu6gz?a=5&p=49763075&t=28575178. Accessed 11 Feb. 2018.
Chand, Smriti. “Group Decision-Making: Its Advantages and Disadvantages.” www.yourarticlelibrary.com/decision-making/group-decision-making-its-advantages-and-disadvantages/27657 . Accessed 11 Feb. 2018.
Lumen. “Managing Group Decision Making: Advantages and Disadvantages of Group Decision Making.” HYPERLINK “https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-management/chapter/managing-group-decision-making/” courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-management/chapter/managing-group-decision-making/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2018.