Management Summary
This bachelor thesis is focused on the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and
employee performance. The thesis is a literature research and thus a review by the work of others.
In earlier research on this topic conducted by Vroom (1964) was concluded that a positive
correlation between motivation and performance did not exist. However, later research proved
that it is indeed possible to motivate employees intrinsically and extrinsically to perform well. It
appears that when the organisation provides certain job characteristics, employees can be
motivated to perform well in the organisation. And it also appeared that intrinsic factors have
more effect on the relationship than extrinsic factors.
This thesis is divided in five chapters; an introduction to the problem, a chapter about employee
motivation, a chapter about employee performance and one about how both types of employee
motivation have an effect on performance. At last, in chapter five, the conclusion is presented,
together with a discussion and managerial implications.
References
Amabile, T. M. (1993). Motivational synergy: toward new conceptualizations of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in
the workplace. Human Resource Management Review, 3 (3), 185-201.
Ansar, J., Cantor, P. & Sparks, R. W. (1997). Efficiency wages and the regulated firm. Journal of Regulatory
Economics, 11, 55-66.