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Question 1: What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

Answer:

The direct motives play, purpose, and potential are all connected to the work itself. Play means doing the work because it is inherently enjoyable or interesting, like a designer who enjoys experimenting with new ideas. Purpose is when the work aligns with your values or identity, such as a nurse who feels that helping patients is part of who she is. Potential is when the work helps you grow or reach a future goal, like an intern who wants to become a manager.

On the other hand, the indirect motives emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia are disconnected from the work itself. Emotional pressure involves working to avoid guilt or shame, such as staying late at work to avoid disappointing a boss. Economic pressure is driven by external rewards or threats, like working just for a paycheck. Inertia is when someone continues working simply out of habit, without knowing why, like someone who stays in a job just because they've always done it.

Question 2: One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

Answer:

In the study, one group of workers was told they were identifying “cancerous tumor cells,” while the other group was told their work would be discarded. Although both groups were paid the same, the “cancer” group worked more carefully and with higher quality, even though they earned less because they spent more time per image. This shows that when people see meaning in their work, their motivation and performance increase significantly. Meaning creates a sense of purpose, which leads to higher engagement and better results.

Question 3: . The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

Answer:

The formula is:
ToMo = (10 × play) + (5 × purpose) + (1⅔ × potential) – (1⅔ × emotional pressure) – (5 × economic pressure) – (10 × inertia)

This weighting reflects how closely each motive is tied to the work. The more connected a motive is to the task (like play), the more it boosts performance. In contrast, motives that are disconnected or externally driven (like economic pressure or inertia) can harm performance. It implies that leaders should focus on increasing intrinsic motivations (play, purpose, potential) and minimizing extrinsic or negative ones.

Question 4:. According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Answer:

One key process is role design. When jobs are designed to include room for creativity and experimentation, like at Toyota where factory workers can improve their processes, employees feel more play and purpose. Another is the identity and mission of the company. At Medtronic, engineers see the direct impact of their devices on patients’ lives, which boosts their sense of purpose. These processes directly enhance ToMo by making work more meaningful and connected to employees’ values.

Question 5: The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Answer:

Describing culture as the "operating system" means it shapes how everything runs within an organization, just like software dictates how a computer functions. Culture guides behavior, motivation, and performance. Leaders can improve team culture by taking small but meaningful steps, like holding weekly reflection meetings to highlight learning (play), impact (purpose), and future goals (potential). They can also explain the “why” behind projects and encourage experimentation, helping employees find more meaning in their roles without changing the organization’s entire structure.

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Pregunta 1: What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

Respuesta: Play is when you enjoy work because you like what you do.

Purpose is when you work toward a specific goal and value the results.

Potential is when the end result benefits or increases your value in the company.

Emotional pressure is when you feel pressured to fulfill a moral or social commitment.

Economic pressure is when you work for a financial reward or to avoid reprimand.

Inertia is when you know how to identify why you are working, but not the reason for doing the activity.

Pregunta 2: One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

Respuesta: When the first group was told their work would be discarded, they stopped paying attention to the details of the images and were able to review more images than the second group. Meaning is shown to be the most important purpose of the exercise, considering that its results could lead to a cure or better treatment for tumors. Motivation is evident in the first group, since knowing their work would be discarded, they performed the task for the financial reward.

Pregunta 3: The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

Respuesta: The reasons that add up are from the group of direct reasons and are those that generate positive performance in workers and the reasons that subtract are from the group of indirect reasons and are those that generate negative performance in workers.

Pregunta 4: According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Respuesta: Role Design: This refers to how responsibilities and functions of employees are defined, organized, and how they affect the company culture. A poorly designed role will negatively impact the company's culture. Performance Review: This refers to the performance evaluation conducted in companies, from which statistical data can be collected on the organizational culture and opportunities for improvement.

Pregunta 5: The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Respuesta: Organizational culture largely determines how a company functions, whether well or poorly. Therefore, it is considered an operating system, as corporate culture affects the entire workforce. Leaders can improve culture at the team level by first training and then transmitting and applying knowledge about corporate culture. They can also acquire personnel and administrative resources to improve corporate culture (building a well-motivated team). They can also hold meetings with a reflective approach. Leaders should inform their teams about the purpose and final results of the work performed or to be performed.

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Guiding Questions

1.

What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

Direct motives are linked to the work itself. They make people feel naturally engaged and tend to improve performance:

Play: You work because you enjoy the task.
Example: A software developer loves coding because it’s fun to solve problems and build things.

Propuse: You work because you believe in the impact of what you’re doing.
Example: A nurse finds meaning in helping patients recover .

Porpuse : You work because it helps you grow or achieve long-term goals.

Example: A junior employee stays committed because the role prepares them for a future leadership position.

Emotional pressure: You work out of guilt, fear, or shame.
Example: An employee stays late only because they fear disappointing their boss.

Economic pressure: You work just for the paycheck or to avoid losing your job.
Example: Someone does repetitive work they dislike just to pay rent.

Inertia: You work without knowing why—you just keep doing it out of habit.
Example: An office worker keeps showing up because it’s what they’ve always done, not because they care.

2.

One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

In the study, one group of workers was told their work would be discarded, while the other was told they were identifying cancerous tumor cells. The second group, despite earning less (because they worked more carefully), produced higher-quality results.

This shows that adding meaning to a task (purpose) increases motivation and performance. When people feel their work has real-world value, they’re more engaged and do better work.

3.

The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

The formula assigns more weight to motives closer to the work itself:

Play is weighted the most (×10), followed by purpose (×5) and potential (×1⅔).

Negative motives are subtracted, with inertia (–10), economic pressure (–5), and emotional pressure (–1⅔).

This weighting is based on research showing that motives more connected to the work lead to better performance, while external or disconnected motives reduce it. It implies that to boost performance, organizations must focus on enhancing direct motives and minimizing indirect ones.

4.

According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Two processes with strong influence:

Role design: A well-designed role can swing ToMo by up to 87 points. If people have freedom to experiment and see their impact, they’re more likely to feel play and purpose.
Example: Toyota allows factory workers to test new tools, increasing motivation through play.

Organizational identity (mission and behavioral code): When employees see how their work aligns with the company’s mission, their sense of purpose increases.
Example: Medtronic shows engineers the real-life use of their devices, reinforcing purpose.

These processes shape whether people feel connected to their work — or just go through the motions.

5.

The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Describing culture as an “operating system” means it’s the set of processes that run in the background and shape how people behave and perform—just like software controls how a computer runs.

Leaders can improve culture at the team level by:

Holding weekly reflection huddles to reinforce play, purpose, and potential.

Clearly explaining the “why” behind tasks to avoid emotional pressure and connect work to purpose.

Allowing experimentation and creativity in roles, which encourages play.

Helping team members see the impact of their work and plan for their future growth (potential).

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Question 1.

What is the difference between direct motives (enjoyment, purpose, and potential) and indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide an example of each.

Answer:

Direct Motives (good for work): These are internal reasons that make you enjoy your work and feel good doing it.

Enjoyment: You like the work itself it's fun.

Example: It could be a teacher who enjoys creating lesson plans or grading assignments, as it is something they like.

Purpose: You believe that your work is important and has a positive impact.

Example: In this case, it could be a doctor who feels motivated by the goal of helping patients improve their health.

Potential: The work helps you grow and learn new things.

Example: Here, it could also be a teacher who seeks to improve their teaching skills to advance in their career.

Indirect Motives (bad for work): These are external reasons that force you to work but do not make you feel good.

Emotional Pressure: You work out of fear of disappointing someone or out of guilt.

Example: It could be an employee who works extra hours to avoid disapproval from their boss.

Economic Pressure: You work only for financial interest.

Example: It could be an employee who doesn’t feel motivated by their job and only does it for the pay.

Inertia: You work out of habit, without a real reason.

Example: Here, it could be an employee who continues performing the same repetitive tasks without finding meaning or purpose in them.

In summary: Direct motives make you want to work; indirect motives make you have to work. The former are good for your performance and well-being, while the latter are bad.

Question 2.

A study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the task affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

Answer:

- The workers who analyzed medical images were able to concentrate better and achieve better results because they saw the task as more important and relevant. They felt more motivated and focused, which improved their attention to detail. On the other hand, if they considered the task boring, their performance could have decreased due to a lack of interest and commitment to what they were doing.

- This study shows us that there is a strong relationship between the meaning of a task and employee motivation. When employees understand that their work significantly contributes to diagnosing diseases through medical images, they feel much more motivated in their jobs. This means that providing something clearer and more meaningful to employees can increase not only their motivation but also the overall performance of everyone.

Question 3.

The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motivations carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

Answer:

In the Total Motivation (ToMo) formula, some motives are more important because they affect how employees feel and work. Motives like personal growth and recognition are key. This means that if employees are more connected to their work, they can perform better.

Question 4.

According to the article, what organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Answer:

(According to the article, two processes that strongly influence Total Motivation are)

-Open communication:When employees can talk and share their ideas, they feel valued and more motivated. This creates a trusting environment.

-Growth opportunities:Offering training and chances to learn helps employees feel like they are improving. This increases their motivation because they see a future in the company.

Question 5.

The authors describe culture as the "operating system" of an organization. What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making significant structural changes?

Answer:

The authors say that culture is the (operating system) of an organization because it guides how employees work and relate to each other. This means that culture affects everything, from communication to motivation. I would say that leaders, to improve culture at the team level without making significant structural changes, should foster collaboration, meaning they should promote teamwork and create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their opinions. They should also recognize achievements, whether big or small, as this would help motivate employees and create a sense of community.

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1. What is the difference between direct and indirect motives?

Direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) are related to the work itself:

Play: You enjoy doing the work. Example: an engineer who loves solving technical problems.

Purpose: You believe your work has a positive impact. Example: a nurse who feels proud of helping patients.

Potential: Your work helps you grow or reach a future goal. Example: an intern gaining experience to become a manager.

Indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia) are not connected to the work itself:

Emotional pressure: You work out of guilt or fear. Example: staying late to avoid disappointing your boss.

Economic pressure: You work only for money or to avoid punishment. Example: working just to pay bills.

Inertia: You don’t know why you work — just doing it out of habit. Example: “I work here because I always have.”

2. How did the way the medical image task was framed affect performance?

When workers were told the images showed cancer cells, they worked with more care and produced better results than those told the images would be discarded.
This shows that meaning increases motivation and improves performance.

3. Why do some motives carry more weight in the ToMo formula?

Because the closer a motive is to the work, the more it improves performance.
The formula gives:

More weight to play (×10), then purpose (×5), and potential (×1.67),

And negative weight to emotional pressure (−1.67), economic pressure (−5), and inertia (−10).
This shows that direct motives are much more powerful in driving performance.

4. Which organizational processes strongly influence motivation?

Two important processes are:

Role design: When a job allows people to experiment, learn, or improve things, they feel more motivated.
Example: Toyota encourages workers to try new ideas in the production line.

Organizational identity: A clear mission helps people feel their work has value.
Example: At Medtronic, engineers see how their medical devices help real patients.

5. What does it mean that culture is the “operating system” of an organization? How can leaders improve it at team level?

It means culture guides how everything works in an organization, just like software runs a computer.
Leaders can improve culture without big changes by:

Doing weekly team huddles to reflect on:

1. What did I learn this week?

2. What impact did I have?

3. What do I want to learn next?

Explaining the “why” behind the work (not just saying “because the boss said so”).

Allowing people to shape their roles, suggesting improvements and seeing the impact of their work.

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Kiara Monroy De La Asunción ID: 1060315 

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Kiara Monroy De La Asunción ID: 1060315 

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Guiding Questions – “How Company Culture Shapes Employee Motivation”

1. What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

R=Direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) These motives are related to the work environment. That is, people find satisfaction in their work, especially in the results. This leads to increased motivation, commitment, and performance. 1. Play You work because you enjoy what you do. The work itself is pleasurable, like a game you enjoy. Example: A graphic designer who loses herself in the creative process and finds joy in creating new designs, without needing to expect subsequent rewards. 2. Purpose You work because you believe in the positive impact your work has. You feel you're contributing to something bigger than yourself. Example: A doctor who works overtime at a clinic because he or she is motivated to save lives and help patients. 3. Potential You work because work helps you grow or advance toward your long-term goals. You see your job as an investment in yourself. Example: An intern who works at an NGO because he or she wants to learn about social development and eventually lead his or her own organization.

Indirect Motivations (Emotional Pressure, Financial Pressure, and Inertia)

These motives are not connected to the work itself or the personal value placed on it. They are external or automatic motivations that often diminish performance and commitment.

1. Emotional Pressure

You work to avoid negative feelings such as guilt, shame, or to avoid disappointing others.

* Example: A son who stays in the family business only because he doesn't want his father to feel disappointed.

2. Financial Pressure

You work because you need money or rewards, or to avoid punishment. Motivation comes from outside, not from an internal desire.

* Example: A cashier who keeps his job just to pay the bills, even though he doesn't like it and feels frustrated.

3. Inertia

You work out of habit, without really knowing why. It's a habit without reflection, and it can lead to deep demotivation.

* Example: Someone who has been in the same position for years without passion or clear objectives, just because “that's how it's always been.”Indirect Motivations (Emotional Pressure, Financial Pressure, and Inertia)

These motives are not connected to the work itself or the personal value placed on it. They are external or automatic motivations that often diminish performance and commitment.

1. Emotional Pressure

You work to avoid negative feelings such as guilt, shame, or to avoid disappointing others.

* Example: A son who stays in the family business only because he doesn't want his father to feel disappointed.

2. Financial Pressure

You work because you need money or rewards, or to avoid punishment. Motivation comes from outside, not from an internal desire.

* Example: A cashier who keeps his job just to pay the bills, even though he doesn't like it and feels frustrated.

3. Inertia

You work out of habit, without really knowing why. It's a habit without reflection, and it can lead to deep demotivation.

* Example: Someone who has been in the same position for years without passion or clear objectives, just because “that's how it's always been.”

2. One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

R=How did the way the task was presented affect their performance? The group that received "meaning" (in this case, that the images contained cancerous tumor cells) performed better because they were more engaged in the task. This suggests that when people perceive their work as having a purpose or real importance, they tend to put in more effort and work more accurately. This reflects that not only monetary reward, but also the meaning of the task, plays a crucial role in people's motivation and performance.

What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

This study highlights how motivation depends not only on external incentives (such as money) but also on internal factors related to the meaning and purpose of the task. When workers perceive that their work has a significant impact, as in the case of tumor cell detection, their intrinsic motivation increases, which can lead to better performance, even if it involves lower compensation.

This finding suggests that people are more productive and effective when they are emotionally connected to the work they do. Meaning has the power to increase intrinsic motivation, and this may be more effective in improving work quality than simply offering a financial reward for productivity.

3. The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

R=The main reason is that more internal motives—those closest to the task itself—have a greater positive impact on performance. This implies that the quality of motivation matters more than its quantity. It's not enough to be motivated; what motivates a person directly affects their productivity and engagement.

4. According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

R=These are those that directly affect the quality of employees' work experience, that is, they reinforce positive motives such as play, purpose, and potential and reduce negative ones such as emotional and economic pressure.

Examples:

Job design boosts positive motivation by making work interesting and aligned with personal development.

Performance management can strengthen or weaken motivation depending on whether it focuses on growth and purpose, or on pressure and control.

5. The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Calling culture the "operating system" highlights its fundamental role in the functioning of the organization. For a company to perform at a high level and adapt to a competitive environment, leaders must intentionally build culture by focusing on deeply and sustainably motivating their teams.

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1. What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

R//The direct and indirect motives are basically those reasons why people work; the direct ones as the game that is the person who works for motivation and desire for constant learning, for example, a worker who has identity with the company, contributes, constantly proposes to its improvement, has a good attitude always and is in constant professional growth, purpose that becomes the impetus of the goal he wants to achieve for his own identity, for example, he works to buy a house, pay for a master's degree, get a trip or achieve something he wants for himself and the potential that would come being that eventual result that would enhance his work and benefit him, for example, he works to buy a house, pay for a master's degree, get a trip or achieve something he wants for himself and the potential that would come being that eventual result that will enhance his work and benefit him as a worker, for example, he is a worker who develops correctly in his work areas, has virtues and qualities that are potential in the company so his participation is favorable and he will benefit from this with good remunerations or job promotions. Indirect motives such as emotional pressure is basically working for a threat, not to generate any disappointment or work under pressure, for example, that worker who works to pay off a debt, because a family member is in a critical state and needs constant financial support or simply because he would not like to work in that but it is what he has to do, then we find what is the economic pressure that this is the force that drives you to work for a reward such as, for example, the support of a family and responsibilities of debts that becomes something more because he has to make up for than because he wants to and finally the inertia that is that unknown reason that the worker is not clear why he does it, for example, a worker who saves his money and does not do it for a specific responsibility or taste just because, he has to work to support himself but there is no reason, purpose or goal as such marked.

2. One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

R// Affecting the point of concluding that the motive for which you work determines how good a worker you are, those direct motives will be the key to improved performance, as that first group was notified that their work would be discarded, they were less responsible and had less attention to meaningful detail and those workers in the study who spent more time detailing the images earned 10% less than the group that was discarded just because of the efficiency in a quicker review than the first group, Therefore, the quality of their work was higher despite the poor pay, demonstrating that always having a meaningful purpose will be the most important key to perform such an exercise since it will be the responsibility and commitment that will be taken into account the results and economic reward.

3. The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

R// The study affected the way in which the task to performance was framed because it allowed to know the closest reason why the workers performed and were motivated, some reasons would have more weight in the formula because their relationship with the performance is more direct and drives more performance while the negative ones move away from this purpose affecting negatively.

4. According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

R// Total motivation drives better performance because the more motivated employees are, the more committed and efficient they will work. The most influential organizational processes are leadership and decision making because when there is good communication from the leader, it increases clarity and motivation at work and the second process would be the performance evaluation because it focuses on the development and continuous improvement of employees allowing them to excel.

5. The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

R// Culture means operating system by the processes that are performed within an organization as they range from the design of a position to performance, thus creating an interconnected chain to ensure success within an organization and through the management and mission will achieve high performance maximizing the potential. Leaders can boost the culture without high expenses creating a total motivation and stop managing everything according to their intuition, although intuition is good but to improve the culture in your workers before you need to know them and know what their motivation to work and thus know how to reach them to get a better performance in your workers.

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1. What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

In the main, direct motives are those that come from within, from what really moves us at work. For example, when we enjoy what we do for vocation or passion (that would be the “game”), like a teacher who gets excited thinking about how to make his classes creative. Then there is “purpose,” which is feeling that your work is a product of something bigger, like a doctor who gets up every day to save lives. And finally “potential,” which is when you see your job as a stepping stone to growth, like an employee who puts in overtime because he dreams of being the boss someday.

Indirect motives, on the other hand, are like those external pushes that force us to work, even if we don't want to. Emotional pressure is clear: staying in a job you hate just so you don't let your parents or family down. The economic pressure is the typical “I work because I need to pay the rent”, even if you find the job very enslaving. And the inertia... well, that's the saddest one: staying in the same place just out of pure habit, like those colleagues who have been in the same chair for 20 years without really knowing why or what for.

2. One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

in that study they did something that caught my attention and I find interesting: one group was told they were just reviewing unimportant images, and the other was told they were detecting cancer. The result? Those in the cancer group worked twice as hard, even though they were paid less! This teaches us something key: people perform better when they feel that their work really matters. Doing something mechanical is not the same as knowing that you are helping to save lives. In the end, the “why” we do things can be more motivating than the paycheck.

3. The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

The ToMo (Total Motivation) formula gives more points to “play” than to others. Why? Well, because it is proven that when you have fun working, you perform twice as well as when you don't. Things like purpose or potential also add up, but a little less. On the other hand, motives such as “working for the money” or inertia even subtract points, because in the end they burn you out. The conclusion is clear: if companies want productive people, they'd better focus on making work more fun and meaningful, not just on giving bonuses.

4. According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

I could summarize it in two key things:

How the jobs are designed: it is usually very boring and monotonous, if they let you get involved, propose ideas and learn (as in Toyota, where even the line operator can suggest improvements), the work becomes more entertaining.

Company identity: When the company has an inspiring mission (like Medtronic, where technicians see how their devices save lives), people work harder. Basically, if work doesn't feel like a formality, motivation goes through the roof.

5. The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Calling culture the “operating system” is a good metaphor: it is like the company's Windows, if it works badly, nothing else will. But be careful, you don't have to make a revolution to improve it. A boss can start with simple things:

Hold meetings where people share what they learned or how it impacted their work.

Explain the “why” of the tasks (no “just do it for the sake of it”).

Give space for the team to come up with crazy ideas.

These are small details, but they make people feel more connected and eager to do their best.

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Jorge Adrián Sarmiento Mendoza ID 1061587

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Jorge Adrián Sarmiento Mendoza ID 1061587

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Pregunta 1

What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

Respuesta 1

Well, the main difference between direct and indirect motives is that this type of culture drives employees to do something because they enjoy the activity itself, find meaning in what they do, and feel it helps them grow. Indirect motives, on the other hand, are the complete opposite.

Direct motive example: A child who spends hours building sandcastles on the beach. They do it because they love building and creating, not because of an order or a reward as such; they do it because they love it.

Indirect motive example: A person, whether young or old, studies a career they don't like, just to please their parents because they expect something from them, and they don't want to disappoint them. They only do it because they feel emotionally pressured to follow that path and fulfill an ideal that isn't theirs.

Pregunta 2

One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

Respuesta 2

a. Well, mainly when they said the work would be discarded, they didn't care if they did it poorly or well. It means they didn't care whether they did it quickly or slowly, so we can see that framing the work does impact performance.

b. Mainly, it tells me that the meaning of the work I do does significantly impact the company or third parties. In the case of the last group, when they were told that those images were cancer cells, their objectivity in looking at the images was completely different. They believe they could serve a greater good, such as saving people. Beyond monetary motivation

Pregunta 3

The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

Respuesta 3

Mainly due to the differences in performance across industries exposed to this formula.

More and more organizations are beginning to realize that culture cannot be left to chance. Leaders must treat culture building as an engineering discipline, not an extraordinary innovation.

Pregunta 4

According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Respuesta4

Some companies make special efforts to design a highly motivating job. Toyota encourages play by giving factory workers the opportunity to devise and test new tools and ideas on the assembly line.

Example #1: A study of bank branch managers showed that offering high-ToMo leadership training led to a 20% increase in credit card sales and a 47% increase in personal loan sales.

Example #2: Medtronic allows its engineers and technicians to see the medical devices they have manufactured in action, so they can see the purpose of their work in other people's lives.

Pregunta 5

The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Respuesta 5

A great culture isn't easy to build; that's why high-performance cultures are such a powerful competitive advantage. However, organizations that build great cultures are able to meet the demands of the digital world.

Senior leaders can build and sustain a high-performance culture by teaching managers to lead in highly motivating ways. CEOs should present a business case for culture (with a budget) and engage HR and business leaders to improve elements that affect culture, from job design to performance reviews. Even without redesigning processes, however, team leaders can begin to improve their employees' overall motivation by:

• Holding a reflection meeting with their team once a week.

• Explaining the reasons behind their team's work.

• Considering how they have designed their team's roles.

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Question

1. What is the difference between the direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and the indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide one example of each.

Answer:

The main difference is that direct motives are connected to the work itself, while indirect motives come from outside pressure and are disconnected from the task.

Play means you do the work because you enjoy it. For example, a teacher who loves preparing creative lessons is driven by play.

Purpose is when the work aligns with your values. For instance, a nurse who wants to help patients feels a strong purpose.

Potential is when the job helps you grow or reach future goals. A junior employee working to become a manager is motivated by potential.

On the other hand:

Emotional pressure happens when you work because you’re afraid of disappointing others. Like when someone stays late at work just to avoid criticism.

Economic pressure is about money or avoiding punishment. For example, doing a job only because you need the paycheck.

Inertia is when you work out of habit, without knowing why. Like someone who keeps the same job for years without any passion.

Direct motives improve performance. Indirect motives usually hurt it, because they distract you from the meaning of the work.

2. One study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

Answer:

In the study, one group of workers was told that the images they analyzed would be discarded. Another group was told the images showed cancer cells. Even though both groups were paid the same, the second group spent more time and produced higher quality work.

This shows that when people find meaning in their work, they are more motivated and perform better. It’s not just about money or time — feeling that your work matters has a real impact on how well you do it.

3. The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

Answer:

In the ToMo formula, motives like play, purpose, and potential have positive weights, and play has the highest. In contrast, inertia, economic pressure, and emotional pressure have negative weights, with inertia being the most damaging.

This means that the closer a motive is to the work itself, the more it drives performance. Direct motives lead to better results, while indirect motives reduce motivation and hurt performance. So, to improve results, companies should design work that supports play, purpose, and potential.

4. According to the article, which organizational processes have the strongest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Answer:

The article highlights that role design and organizational identity have a big impact on motivation.

Role Design: If a role allows freedom, creativity, and experimentation, it increases play and purpose. For example, Toyota lets factory workers test new ideas. That motivates them and improves performance.

Organizational Identity: When employees feel connected to the company’s mission, they feel purpose. At Medtronic, engineers get to see the medical devices they build being used to save lives. This creates emotional connection and deepens motivation.

So, thoughtful design of tasks and a meaningful mission can significantly increase Total Motivation.

5. The authors describe culture as an organization’s “operating system.” What does this mean, and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making major structural changes?

Answer:

Describing culture as the “operating system” means that it controls how the organization works, just like software runs a computer. It’s made of processes, values, and habits that influence how people feel and act at work.

Leaders can improve culture without big changes by:

Holding weekly reflection huddles: Team members can reflect on what they learned, what impact they had, and what they want to learn next.

Explaining the why behind every task: Instead of saying “the boss asked for it,” connect the task to how it helps others.

Redesigning roles to include space for experimentation and personal growth: Let team members make suggestions, try new things, and see the results of their work.

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How Corporate Culture Influences Employee Motivation
1. What is the difference between direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide an example of each.

Response:

Direct motives are those that drive people positively because they find satisfaction in the activity itself. For example:
• Game: When a person loves what they do, for example: A soccer player, training and playing important matches becomes a very enjoyable challenge for them.
• Purpose: When it is understood that what you contribute has significant meaning for someone, for example: A firefighter responding to an emergency.
• Potential: When the job aims to bring out the best in you, for example: An accounting assistant who knows that the company is training its employees to learn new skills.
Indirect motives, on the other hand, are external pressures that force action but do not generate real satisfaction:
• Emotional pressure: Working with the fear of expressing disagreements to avoid problems with the boss or colleagues.
• Economic pressure: When you work due to high debts and thus avoid service cut-offs, eviction from housing, and falling into disrepute with banks.
• Inertia: Continuing in a role out of habit or lack of alternatives, simply being without a clear objective.
Inertia: Continuing in a role out of habit or lack of alternatives, simply being without a clear objective.

2. A study in the article involved workers who analyzed medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?
Answer:
In the study, the workers who analyzed medical images improved their performance when they were told that their work helped save lives, which is related to having a focus on purpose. This shows that when people find meaning in their work, knowing that they positively impact others, they become more motivated and perform better. Motivation does not depend only on the assigned task but on how it is framed.

3. The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (MoT). Why do some motives carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about its connection to performance?
Answer:
The formula in the article gives more weight to direct motives because it focuses on a more personal motivation. These motives have an impact and result in better performance, as people put in more effort when they are internally committed. That is to say, the way a worker is motivated can lead to better performance.
4. According to the article, which organizational processes have the greatest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.
Response:
Performance management: When looking for an evaluation system that recognizes the achievements of workers and supports their professional development, it implies a more motivating system.
Internal Communication: When there is clear and objective communication between leaders and workers, it can create significant importance for those who feel their voice has been heard and can contribute ideas for the company's growth.
5. The authors describe culture as the "operating system" of an organization. What does this mean and how can leaders improve the culture at the team level without making major structural changes?
Answer:
Just as the operating system of a computer determines how its programs function, culture organizes and conditions the way people act in a company.
It is necessary to provide training for leaders or managers who act as examples of the values that the company wants to convey in its dealings with employees. Create spaces where meetings can be held that focus on motivating, recognizing the achievements of colleagues, giving them autonomy, and being listened to in order to provide input on the company. This achieves greater cohesion of the values imparted by the company.

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1.     What is the difference between direct motives (play, purpose, and potential) and indirect motives (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia)? Explain each category in your own words and provide an example of each one.

Direct Motives (Enhance Performance): These are intrinsically connected with work or identity, fostering commitment and quality.

• Play: Motivation for the enjoyment of the activity itself. o Example: A programmer who enjoys solving complex problems for the pleasure of the challenge.

• Purpose: Motivation for the valued impact of the work, aligned with identity. o Example: A volunteer who identifies with the mission of helping others.

• Potential: Motivation for the personal and professional growth that the work offers. o Example: An employee seeking a position to develop new skills and advance in their career.

Indirect Motives (Harmful to Performance): They are extrinsic to the work, focused on external forces or avoiding negative consequences, which distracts and reduces quality.

• Emotional Pressure: Motivation to avoid guilt, fear, or shame. o Example: An employee who stays late out of fear of disappointing the boss.

• Economic Pressure: Motivation purely by reward or to avoid monetary punishment. o Example: A worker who only goes for the paycheck.

• Inertia: Motivation out of simple habit, without a clear reason. o Example: Someone who does their job because "they have always done it."

2.     A study in the article involved workers analyzing medical images. How did the way the task was framed affect their performance? What does this tell us about the relationship between meaning and motivation?

They were told that their work would be discarded. They spent less time on each image and their work was of lower quality. They were told that the objects were "cancerous tumor cells." They spent more time on each image (earning 10% less on average) and the quality of their work was superior. This tells us that reframing the reason for the work (adding meaning or purpose) resulted in better performance, even if it involved a personal cost (earning less). It highlights the powerful relationship between the perceived meaning of a task and intrinsic motivation, demonstrating that when work has a purpose beyond mere completion, dedication and quality increase.

3.     The article presents a formula to calculate Total Motivation (ToMo). Why do some motivations carry more weight than others in this formula? What does this imply about their connection to performance?

The top three motivations (play, purpose, and potential) "tend to increase performance."

Meanwhile, the last three (emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia) "harm it."

Direct motivations (play, purpose, potential) have a positive and significant "weight" in the ToMo formula because they drive performance. A high-performance culture maximizes them. On the other hand, indirect motivations (emotional pressure, economic pressure, inertia) have a negative or detrimental "weight," as they distract the worker and reduce the quality of work. A high-performance culture minimizes them.

4.     According to the article, what organizational processes have the greatest influence on Total Motivation? Describe at least two processes and how they impact employee motivation.

Role Design (How a job is designed):

Impact on motivation: Role design is the factor that most influences Total Motivation, with an impact range of 87 points on the ToMo scale. A well-designed role can maximize 'play' in employees, allowing them to experiment, be curious, and explore challenging problems. Example from the text: Toyota encourages play by allowing factory workers to come up with and test new tools and ideas on the assembly line.

Organization Identity (Mission and Code of Conduct):

Impact on motivation: The organization’s identity is the second most sensitive element for Total Motivation. When the mission and code of conduct are effectively communicated and experienced, they can strengthen employees' 'purpose', making them value the impact of their work and identify with it. Example from the text: Medtronic allows its engineers and technicians to see their medical devices in action so that they understand the purpose of their work.

5.     The authors describe culture as the "operating system" of an organization. What does this mean and how can leaders improve culture at the team level without making significant structural changes?

It means that culture is the fundamental set of internal processes that drive and affect people's Total Motivation (ToMo). Just as an operating system manages all the programs and functions of a computer, culture manages and guides the behavior and motivation of employees, determining how they interact, make decisions, and work. In a high-performing culture, these processes are designed to maximize total motivation.

Leaders can improve culture at the team level without making significant structural changes in the following ways:

Hold a weekly reflection meeting with the team: Dedicate one hour a week for each person to answer three key questions: play – purpose – potential.

Explain the 'why' of the team's work: Leaders must communicate the fundamental reason behind projects and tasks, focusing on how the work benefits customers or the overall mission, rather than just on hierarchical authority.

Consider how the team roles have been designed:

Space for play: Encourage employees to experiment and explore within their roles. For example, allow them to try new ways to connect with customers or suggest improvements in processes.

Opportunity to witness the impact: Look for ways for team members to see directly how their work makes a difference, which reinforces their sense of purpose.

Helping to reach potential: Talking to each team member about their two-year aspirations and collaborating on a plan to help them develop their skills and grow.