Trifecta of Motivation on Work Interest at STIE Ciputra Makassar

Abstract

While Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is widely used to explain academic motivation, its integration with McClelland’s learned needs—particularly in the context of emerging economies’ business education—remains underexplored. This study aims to examine the influence of intrinsic motivation, self-competence, and affiliation on work interest among students at a University in Makassar, an entrepreneurship-focused institution. Specifically, it seeks to identify how the tension between collectivist social needs (affiliation) and meritocratic professional demands (competence) shapes career readiness. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via WarpPLS. Data were collected from 180 students using proportionate stratified random sampling. The model integrates SDT’s basic psychological needs with McClelland’s motivational indicators to provide a nuanced analysis of career drivers. The results indicate that intrinsic motivation and self-competence are the dominant predictors of work interest, slightly outweighing affiliation. All three dimensions have a significant positive effect, collectively explaining 63% of the variance in work interest. This study offers a theoretical contribution by establishing a boundary condition for SDT in Indonesian higher education. It reveals that in entrepreneurship-oriented curricula, the traditional cultural emphasis on 'affiliation' is secondary to 'self-competence' due to the rising meritocratic pressures of the modern labour market. This finding challenges the assumption that collectivist contexts always prioritise social relatedness, suggesting instead that professional identity formation shifts student priorities towards internal drive and capability. Practically, this finding suggests that universities should balance collaborative activities with rigorous competency-based training to effectively foster true career readiness.