Empirical Evidence of Expectancy Theory: Insights from Belgian and Romanian Local Public Administration

The present paper focuses on studying the instrumentality as defined by Victor Vroom in his expectancy theory. Each element of the expectancy theory may be influenced by the organizational context, which will ultimately affect motivation. This study presents how promotion and the remuneration/rewarding systems in local public institutions impact instrumentality and, consequently, the work motivation of civil servants. The research was conducted in the Brussels Region (Belgium) and North West Region (Romania). By using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the results indicate that both aspects influence instrumentality, but the type of influence may vary. Promotion aspects have a negative influence on instrumentality in the Brussels Region and a positive influence in the North West Region, while the rewarding system negatively affects instrumentality in both regions. The results are useful for the management of city halls, practitioners from local administration, scholars, and all those interested in using expectancy theory as a motivational framework for civil servants.