What term describes the extent to which an employee values the reward or consequence?

The term that describes the extent to which an employee values the reward or consequence is known as valence. Valence is a key concept in motivation theory, particularly in Vroom's Expectancy Theory, which posits that the motivation to perform a task is influenced by the expected outcomes. In this context, if an employee perceives that a certain reward is valuable or desirable, the valence for that reward increases, thereby enhancing the likelihood of the employee engaging in the behavior that leads to that reward. This indicates that the desire for a reward directly impacts motivation levels.

To further clarify the context in which this term is used, expectancy refers to the belief that effort will lead to performance, while instrumentality is the belief that performance will lead to a specific outcome or reward. Motivation encompasses the overall drive to act based on various factors, including both valence and the other components of expectancy theory. However, it is valence specifically that captures the value assigned to the rewards, making it a critical factor in understanding employee motivation.