Success and Failure. The Same in Sport As in Work?

Although it is clear that achievement goal orientations (how people define success) and attributional styles (how people explain success and failure) are related to achievement behaviour and motivation and that motivation is a critical factor in achieving success in work and sport, little sport or management research-based information is available regarding the identification of individuals likely to sustain high levels of motivation over time or in the development of sustained motivation levels. Data collected at two points in time from 224 employees and 272 athletes is presented. The findings contribute to resolving the debate over how specific attributional styles influence achievement goal orientation and help answer whether the optimal attributional style (how one explains success) depends on the adopted achievement goal orientation (how one defines success). Further, the preponderance of available research on these issues focuses on athletes and students. This knowledge largely has not been extended to the employment setting. In addition to addressing these issues in both a sporting and work context, this study represents the first empirical analysis of the popularly held view that the attributes necessary for excellence in motivation and performance at work are the same as those in sport. Thus, the research also contributes to the development of appropriate metaphors for the organisational context and expands understanding of motivational processes across contexts.