Construct validation of an instrumentality-expectancy-task-goal model of work motivation: Some theoretical boundary conditions

Tested in 2 organizations an instrumentality-expectancy-task-goal model that sought to add specificity to the conceptualization and measurement of key variables by focusing on employees' decision process. Support for the major links in the model was found in 1 of the organizations (using data from a sample of 184 employees), but results from the other organization (with a sample of 412 employees) generally failed to support the hypotheses. Special attention is given to the potential effect of the organizational environment on employee cognitions and motivation. The different results in the 2 organizations are attributed to possible boundary conditions that may affect the relationships among employee cognitions, task goal selection, and performance. Implications of the basic model and its boundary conditions for research and practice are discussed. It is concluded that the model facilitated the observation of systematic and orderly results, thus adding to the understanding of behavior in organizations. (32 ref)