Unit 2.5 Motivation

This year’s Forbes Rich List of the wealthiest Americans has been published. There is no surprise who is top, but how many women feature in the top 10 and how many people in the top 10 are related to one another? Read on to find out…

Some interesting data here to use in a lesson on motivation:
* The combined wealth of the Koch brothers make them the second wealthiest people in the USA
* The Walton family (of Walmart) are undoubtedly the wealthiest American family
* This suggests that family-run or family-led businesses (as in the case of Koch Industries and Walmart) can really be a formula for success.
* Two females make the top 10 (Alice Walton is the daughter of Walmart founder, Sam Walton, and Christy Walton is her sister-in-law)
* More than half of those in the top 10 are beyond retirement age.

Questions

1. Define intrinsic motivation. [2 marks]

2. Outline F.W. Taylor’s theory of motivation. [4 marks]

3. Examine why some people are motivated to work beyond the retirement age. [6 marks]

Read more about the Forbes Rich List.
The BBC also has a good article on this news feature.