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Motivational differences in for-profit and non-profit organizations

Åkerman, Wilhelm LU and Schaack, Ophélie Désirée LU (2021) MGTN59 20211
Department of Business Administration
Abstract (Swedish)
The purpose of this thesis is to compare motivational differences and similarities between non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. Additionally, our purpose is to compare self-perceived and assigned motivation in employees to find potential discrepancies. Finally, to compare working motivation between employees working in Luxembourg and Sweden. In order to reach the purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted on 13 lawyers working in non-profit and for-profit organizations in Luxembourg and Sweden. The data for this study was collected through interviews and the respondents’ results from the General Causality Orientation Scale questionnaire. Combinedly, the respondents were able to place themselves and be placed on a... (More)
The purpose of this thesis is to compare motivational differences and similarities between non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. Additionally, our purpose is to compare self-perceived and assigned motivation in employees to find potential discrepancies. Finally, to compare working motivation between employees working in Luxembourg and Sweden. In order to reach the purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted on 13 lawyers working in non-profit and for-profit organizations in Luxembourg and Sweden. The data for this study was collected through interviews and the respondents’ results from the General Causality Orientation Scale questionnaire. Combinedly, the respondents were able to place themselves and be placed on a spectrum of motivation, due to the development of the Self-Determination Theory to function for employees working in non-profit and for-profit organizations.

It was concluded that there are many similarities in motivation between non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. The results show clear discrepancies between self-perceived and assigned motivation for both non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. Further, this indicates for-profit organizational employees as more intrinsically motivated than self-perceived and what is perceived by stereotypes. Moreover, when comparing Luxembourgish and Swedish employees, the results were fundamentally alike, which highlights cultural similarities in Western European countries. The results from this thesis support the view of seeing motivation as ranging on a spectrum rather than being a dichotomous concept. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Åkerman, Wilhelm LU and Schaack, Ophélie Désirée LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A comparative case study of lawyers’ motivation to work
course
MGTN59 20211
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Self-determination theory, motivation, non-profit, for-profit, spectrum, dichotomy, lawyers
language
English
id
9062096
date added to LUP
2021-08-13 09:05:13
date last changed
2021-08-13 09:05:13
@misc{9062096,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this thesis is to compare motivational differences and similarities between non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. Additionally, our purpose is to compare self-perceived and assigned motivation in employees to find potential discrepancies. Finally, to compare working motivation between employees working in Luxembourg and Sweden. In order to reach the purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted on 13 lawyers working in non-profit and for-profit organizations in Luxembourg and Sweden. The data for this study was collected through interviews and the respondents’ results from the General Causality Orientation Scale questionnaire. Combinedly, the respondents were able to place themselves and be placed on a spectrum of motivation, due to the development of the Self-Determination Theory to function for employees working in non-profit and for-profit organizations.

It was concluded that there are many similarities in motivation between non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. The results show clear discrepancies between self-perceived and assigned motivation for both non-profit and for-profit organizational employees. Further, this indicates for-profit organizational employees as more intrinsically motivated than self-perceived and what is perceived by stereotypes. Moreover, when comparing Luxembourgish and Swedish employees, the results were fundamentally alike, which highlights cultural similarities in Western European countries. The results from this thesis support the view of seeing motivation as ranging on a spectrum rather than being a dichotomous concept.}},
  author       = {{Åkerman, Wilhelm and Schaack, Ophélie Désirée}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Motivational differences in for-profit and non-profit organizations}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}