CheckPoint: Motivation and Teams Case Study

• Resource: Ch. 7 of Introduction to Business
• Read the two case studies on pp. 233–236 of the text.
• Answer the following in a 200- to 300-word response:
• What motivation theories may be found in each case study?
• Describe the theories found in each case study and cite specific examples.
• What was each business owner’s approach to creating high-performing teams within their company?

In the first case study, The Two Men and a Truck, the motivation theories used by Sheets were Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory, the expectancy theory, and the job enrichment theory. Originally, Sheet’s motivation was to assist her two sons part-time moving business attract more customers. By doing this, Sheets was using the Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory because she was focused on her sons’ physiological needs of earning income. Because she did not want to reject the business call, she decided to take advantage of the orders she was still receiving. Sheets saw a demand for a localized moving company. After her last child completed college, the expectancy theory applies because she believed that she had a service that would serve the needs of other individuals to begin their own business by creating a franchise opportunity. She believed that she possessed the ability, self-efficacy, to create the moving franchise opportunity. By creating this opportunity for others to reward for their work efforts and efficiencies, she empowers the job enrichment theory. Her approach to creating a high-performing team was to provide a personal touch, provide excellent customer service, and comprehensive training.

The second case study, Kleinfeld of Siemens, represents the motivational theories of Maslow’s needs hierarchy, goal setting, and expectancy. Kleinfeld is motivated by his need for self-actualization when he planned to speed