Sources of Work Motivation of Business Leaders in the USA and South Africa: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Using the Motivational Sources Inventory

Abstract

Motivational differences in response to the Motivation Sources Inventory were tested between U.S. ( n=138) and South-African ( n = 114) work samples. Analysis indicated that American managers scored significantly higher on intrinsic process (fun), while South-African managers scored significantly higher on self-concept external and goal internalization when measured using ratio analysis. Replication and extension with large groups representative of populations of interest in conjunction with Hofstede's cultural dimensions could allow generalization.