John is motivated to serve as a social worker by intrinsic rewards, a harmonious team culture and autonomy at work and appreciation by colleagues and the community. However, he experiences demotivational forces: unsatisfactory tangible returns, poor physical work environment, organisational bureaucracy, an incompatible boss, inadequate time for his son and wife and her concerns about their future in Hong Kong. His motivation to work is now at the crossroads, experiencing conflicting intrapersonal, organisational and societal forces. They are typical of real-life complexity but not explained by common motivation theories.

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