Expectancy theory of Motivation was propounded by:

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Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Victor H. Vroom, a Canadian professor, is the recognized originator of the Expectancy Theory of Motivation, which he published in his 1964 book, *Work and Motivation*. This theory is a foundational process theory in organizational behavior, positing that an individual’s motivation is a function of three core elements: Expectancy, Instrumentality, and Valence. Expectancy is the belief that effort leads to performance; Instrumentality is the belief that performance leads to a certain outcome or reward; and Valence is the perceived value of that outcome or reward to the individual. Therefore, motivation only occurs when an employee believes that increased effort will successfully lead to performance and subsequently to a personally valuable reward.

The incorrect option is 1:
Porter and Lawler's motivation model, often referred to as the Performance-Satisfaction Model, is actually an extension and refinement of Vroom's original Expectancy Theory. While it incorporates key concepts like effort and performance expectations, it is a more comprehensive framework that introduces variables such as abilities, traits, and role perceptions. Critically, their model also proposes a crucial difference: that satisfaction is the result of performance that is rewarded equitably, which contrasts with earlier ideas. They did not formulate the initial cognitive links of the Expectancy Theory, but rather built upon Vroom’s initial conceptualization.

The incorrect option is 2:
Douglas McGregor is primarily known for developing the managerial philosophy captured in Theory X and Theory Y. These are not theories of the *process* of individual motivation but rather theories about the *assumptions* managers hold regarding their employees. Theory X assumes employees are inherently lazy and require close supervision, while Theory Y assumes employees are self-motivated and seek responsibility. McGregor's work, therefore, addresses managerial style and leadership, which is a different domain than Vroom's model of a worker's internal choice process for effort allocation.

The incorrect option is 4:
J. Stacy Adams is the psychologist who introduced the Equity Theory of Motivation. This theory focuses on an individual's sense of fairness in the workplace. The central tenet is that employees are motivated by comparing their ratio of inputs (effort, experience) to outcomes (pay, benefits) against the ratios of comparable others. When an individual perceives an imbalance or inequity, a state of tension is created, and they are motivated to restore equity. This focus on social comparison and fairness makes it distinct from the mathematical, goal-directed calculation of Vroom's Expectancy Theory.