Mitigating Information Overload: An Experiential Exercise Using Role-Play to Illustrate and Differentiate Theories of Motivation

Work motivation is a core component of many management courses. However, its effective teaching can be hampered by the fragmentation and seeming incoherence of the various theories of work motivation. To address this challenge, we describe an interactive role-play activity that induces students to s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Management teaching review 2023-03, Vol.8 (1), p.40-56
Main Authors: Afota, Marie-Colombe, Robinson, Melanie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business Administration Education
Cooperative Learning
Experiential Learning
Learning Activities
Motivation
Role Playing
Theories
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Summary:Work motivation is a core component of many management courses. However, its effective teaching can be hampered by the fragmentation and seeming incoherence of the various theories of work motivation. To address this challenge, we describe an interactive role-play activity that induces students to synthesize, apply, and compare several theories of motivation. In the first part of the exercise, students work in small groups to prepare a role-play skit illustrating a specific theory of motivation. In the second part, groups present their role-play skits in front of the class, and the rest of the students try to determine which theories were performed. Next, the debriefing session encourages students to discuss, compare, and contrast the theories. Though the present exercise focuses on four theories—the hierarchy of needs, the two-factor theory, expectancy theory, and self-determination theory—the activity can be easily adapted to incorporate other models of motivation.
ISSN:2379-2981
2379-2981
DOI:10.1177/2379298120933999