The Relationship between Performance and Satisfaction: A Utility Analysis.

Abstract

A utility analysis suggests that the performance-satisfaction relationship is curvilinear. Total utility (satisfaction) is expected to rise as performance increases, but at a diminishing rate. After some point total utility will decline with increases in performance, as the marginal utility associated wtih the last unit of performance becomes negative. This decline in satisfaction occurs because of the satiation of both intrinsic and extrinsic needs, and because the utility of leisure increases as it becomes increasingly scarce when more time and effort is devoted to work performance. Thus satisfaction and performance may be negatively related for high to very high levels of performance. Implications for encouraging and maintaining performance at the margin are presented. Originator supplied keywords include: Satisfaction; performance; motivation; incentives; equity; and utility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA152342

Entities

People

  • C. D. Fisher
  • G. R. Jones

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Applied Psychology
  • Business Administration
  • Control Systems
  • Educational Psychology
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Motivation
  • Naval Operations
  • New York
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Training
  • War Colleges

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  • Economics
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design