Cultral Challenges of Doing Business Overseas

The Reinforcement Theory

What does the reinforcement theory states? And how could this be implemented into the work place? The reinforcement theory is considered to be a functional theory, which means all of its components are defined by their functions and how they work rather than by their structure.

The functional nature of reinforcement theory is important to understand and it is explained that the theory sometimes appears to be incorrect. For example: when a child is good but then interrupts a class for attention, the teacher. Reinforce's by stopping the class, to tell the child that she/he has been naughty and has broken the rules and now must leave the classroom and go into time out. (Hill, W 1985, 4th Ed.)

To give another example, in a professional workplace environment such as the Detroit Police Department, as an police officer or anyone in a authoritative position must be conscious of his or hers dispositions when dealing with the public. When a citizen complains about a officer's attitude or professionalism towards them to the commanding officer's, the officer must be counseled or disciplined after a thorough investigation has been conducted and that again is where reinforcement is implemented to reassure that unprofessional conduct is not repeated.

According to Reinforcement Theory, people learn several things during the process of reinforcement. First, they learn that certain behaviors, lead to consequences, when a officer uses his or her authority to push their wait around this is where consequences come into play and the reinforcement of punishment is then implemented. But on the flip side of professionalism in the work place, there is acknowledgment merits given when an officer has displayed outstanding work of appreciation on behalf of the organization.

It is stated that it is difficult to identify rewards and punishments, because reinforcers are identified by their function. And once you do find things