WCUP Industrial Organizational Psychology Simpsons Behavior Case Questions

I’m working on a psychology writing question and need a sample draft to help me study.

1. What would equity theory have predicted about Simpson’s behavior following the promotion of Coleman?

2. In the terms of expectancy theory (VIE theory), how would you describe Simpson’s valence for a promotion and its instrumentality?

3. Of these two cognitive theories of motivation, which do you feel best explains the recent behavior of Simpson?CASE STUDY #4: MOTIVATION

Joe Collins, production manager of York Tool and Die Company, tapped Harry Simpson on

the shoulder. “Harry,” Collins said, “I’d like to talk to you in my office.”

“Right now?” asked Simpson.

“Right now,” Collins replied.

Simpson took off his safety goggles and put them on the rack. He was a line foreman, and it

was unusual to be called away from his line. He figured it had to be something big, otherwise Collins

would have waited until break.

“Hey Willie,” Simpson yelled at his lead man, “cover for me will you? I’ve got to talk to Joe.”

Simpson walked into Collins’ office. The look on Collins’ face told him it wasn’t going to be

good news.

“Harry, I’ve known you for eight years,” Collins began. “You’ve always kept your nose

to the grindstone. You’ve been conscientious and diligent. I’ve had fewer problems with you than

with most of the other foremen. But lately things have been different. You’ve come to work late five

times in the past month. You’ve been late turning in your weekly productions sheets. The scrap rate

of your line has been going up, too. I was also told that Willie had to spend a lot of time breaking in

the two new guys. That’s your job. What’s going on, Harry?”

Simpson shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. “I didn’t realize these things were

happening.”

“You didn’t know you were late?!” Collins was incredulous. “You’ve been coming to work at

7:30 for eight years. When you punch in at 7:45, you’re late, and you know it.”

“I don’t know, Joe, I just haven’t felt ‘with it’ lately,” Simpson explained. “Doris says I’ve been

moping around the house a lot lately, too.”

“I’m not here to chew you out, Harry,” Collins replied. “You’re a valuable man. I want to find a

way to get you back in gear. Anything been bugging you lately?”

“Well, I’ve finally figured out I’m not going to make it to supervisor. At least not in the near

future. That’s what I’ve been working for all along. Maybe I’ve hit my peak. When Coleman made it

to supervisor, I figured I’d be the next one up. But it never happened. I’m not sore – Coleman is a

good man, and he deserved it. I just feel kind of deflated.”

“You’re well respected by management, Harry, and your line thinks you’re great, too. You’ve

set a tough example to live up to. I want you to keep it up – we need people like you.”

“I know I have an important job,” said Simpson, “but I figure I can’t get ahead anymore, at

least not on how well I do my job. I guess it boils down to luck or something.”

“What if I give you a new line to run?” Collins asked. “Would that give you a new challenge?”

“No, I wouldn’t want that, Joe,” replied Simpson. “I like my line, and I don’t want to leave

them.”

“Alright Harry, but here’s the deal,” Collins stated. “I want you to cut back on the lateness,

pronto. Get your production reports in on time, and watch the scrap. With the price of copper going

up, we’ve got to play it tight. Oh, and give Willie a break. He’s got enough to do. Does this sound

okay to you?”

“Yeah,” Simpson said, “You’re only telling me to do what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“Keep at it, Harry,” Collins said with a smile. “In two more years, you’ll get a 10-year pin.”

Simpson got up to leave. “It won’t pay the rent, but I’d like to have it.

Simpson walked back to the line. Willie looked up and saw him coming.

“What’d Joe want?” Willie asked.

“Oh, nothing much,” Simpson replied.

Willie knew Simpson was hiding something, and Simpson figured Willie knew what it was.