Vroom's Expectancy Theory

Vroom is the first person to propose an expectancy theory aimed specially at work motivation. Criticizing Hertzberg's two-factor theory, he proposed this theory as an alternative theory of motivation. According to this theory, people will be motivated to do things to achieve some goals to the extent they expect that certain actions on their parts will help them to achieve the goals. He presented this theory based on three key variables.

Valence
Instrumentality, and
Expectancy

Therefore, this theory is also called the VIE theory.

Now lets see what is meant by of the above variables: The feeling about specific outcomes is termed valance. Other terms equivalent to valance used in various theories of motivation are incentive, attitude, and expected utility. Positive valance is where the person prefers achieving the outcome. to not achieving it. Negative valance is where there is performance for avoiding the outcome. Where the perosn is indifferent towards the outcome, there is zero valance.