1. Goal Setting, Performance and Satisfaction in an Interdependent Task.
- Author
-
Hamner, W. Clay and Harnett, Donald L.
- Subjects
- *
JOB satisfaction , *PERFORMANCE standards , *ORGANIZATIONAL behavior , *ORGANIZATIONAL change , *ORGANIZATIONAL sociology , *SELF-interest - Abstract
This study was designed to determine the effect that goals have on performance and the effect that performance has on reported levels of satisfaction in a competitively structured task. The results of this study give strong evidence to Locke's theory (Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 1969, 4, 566-574) that the most immediate, direct motivational determinant of task performance is the subject's goal, and to Ilgen and Hamstra's theory (Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 1972, 7, 359-370) that satisfaction with one's performance is a function of the difference between actual performance and performance goals, and also a function of the difference between actual performance and performance of a reference person. Satisfaction and performance were found to be strongly related only up to the point where a person exceeds his goal or his reference person's outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1974
- Full Text
- View/download PDF