<P> Employees seek autonomy and responsibility in their work, contrary to assumptions of the rational theory of management . Because supervisors have direct authority over employees, they must ensure that the employee's actions are in line with the standards of efficient conduct . This creates a sense of restriction on the employee and these constraints are viewed as "annoying and seemingly functioned only as subordinating or differentiating mechanisms ." Accordingly, the natural management system assumes that employees prefer autonomy and responsibility on the job and dislike arbitrary rules and overwhelming supervision . An individual's motivation to complete a task is increased when this task is autonomous . When the motivation to complete a task comes from an "external pressure" that pressure then "undermines" a person's motivation, and as a result decreases a persons desire to complete the task . </P> <P> The idea that human beings are rational and human behavior is guided by reason is an old one . However, recent research (on satisficing for example) has significantly undermined the idea of homo economicus or of perfect rationality in favour of a more bounded rationality . The field of behavioural economics is particularly concerned with the limits of rationality in economic agents . </P> <P> Motivation can be divided into two different theories known as intrinsic (internal or inherent) motivation and extrinsic (external) motivation . </P> <P> Intrinsic motivation has been studied since the early 1970s . Intrinsic motivation is the self - desire to seek out new things and new challenges, to analyze one's capacity, to observe and to gain knowledge . It is driven by an interest or enjoyment in the task itself, and exists within the individual rather than relying on external pressures or a desire for consideration . The phenomenon of intrinsic motivation was first acknowledged within experimental studies of animal behavior . In these studies, it was evident that the organisms would engage in playful and curiosity - driven behaviors in the absence of reward . Intrinsic motivation is a natural motivational tendency and is a critical element in cognitive, social, and physical development . The two necessary elements for intrinsic motivation are self - determination and an increase in perceived competence . In short, the cause of the behavior must be internal, known as internal local of causality, and the individual who engages in the behavior must perceive that the task increases their competence . </P>

Which of the following theories of motivation is based on the idea that work effort