Work Motivation: History, Theory, Research, and Practice

This book provides a unique behavioral science framework for motivating employees in organizational settings. Drawing upon his experiences as a staff psychologist and consultant, Gary Latham writes in a “mentor voice” that is highly personal and rich in examples. The book includes anecdotes about the major thought leaders in the field of motivation, together with behind-the-scenes accounts of research and the researchers. It offers a chronological review of the field, and a taxonomy for the study and practice of motivation. Controversies of theoretical and practical significance such as the importance of money, the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance, and the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are discussed.