This concept is motivation in organizations and in particular, J. Stacey Adams' equity theory. In the following paragraphs, I will hopefully aid those interested in management by defining motivation as well as the equity theory. As a manager, it is imperative to understand what drives people to a higher level. To understand this definition even further, let's break it down word for word. We stated that the first part of motivation deals with arousal.
Arousal is the attempt to evoke some action or feeling from somebody.
The excitement produced by fulfilling a motive that is stimulating, such as being successful at work, will make this behavior rewarding for its own sake. Following with our definition of motivation, we can determine that managers must provide direction. The stimulus already present is the desire to be successful at work. A manager may direct the employee by complimenting the work they do or by setting examples of hard work. Either way, the subordinate recognizes this as a path toward meeting their goal.