Click the link above to read the original article in my journal.
Also posted below for your convenience.
INSTRUMENTAL VALUES and TERMINAL VALUES
THE TWO TYPES OF VALUES
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Values are of two types, both in the personal and organizational domains.
The two types of values are:
INSTRUMENTAL VALUES
and
TERMINAL VALUES
INSTRUMENTAL VALUES
Instrumental Values are core values, permanent in nature, comprise personal characteristics and character traits.
Instrumental Values refer to preferable modes of behaviour and include values like honesty, sincerity, ambition, independence, obedience, imaginativeness, courageousness, competitiveness, and also some negative traits too.
Organisations also have Instrumental Values (which can be ascertained from the organizational culture) and these are permanent in nature and difficult to change.
For example, the instrumental values of a PSU will differ from that of an MNC though both may be in the same business.
Instrumental Values are difficult to change.
TERMINAL VALUES
In our personal lives, Terminal Values are those things that we can work towards or we think are most important and we feel are most desirable – terminal values are desirable states of existence.
Terminal Values include things like happiness, self respect, family security, recognition, freedom, inner harmony, comfortable life, professional excellence, etc
In a nutshell, Terminal Values signify the objectives of the life of a person – the ultimate things the person wants to achieve through his or her behaviour (the destination he wants to reach in life) whereas Instrumental Values indicate themethods an individual would like to adopt for achieving his life’s aim (the path he would like to take to reach his destination).
This applies to organisations as well, and organizations too exhibit Terminal Values. However, Terminal Values can be changed and this can be seen when there is a change of top management or CEO.
Read this Before you take up a Job (or Before Recruiting a Candidate)
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AND ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOUR
Organisational Values are the key to organisational behaviour.
So, before you join an organization you must ensure that there is no conflict in your instrumental values and the organization’s instrumental values, sinceinstrumental values are difficult to change.
Conversely, the organisation must consider this aspect while interviewing a prospective candidate for recruitment.
Of course, any mismatch in terminal values can be corrected by suitable induction training, since terminal values can be inculcated or realigned or changed.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse – his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Vikram Karve 
[…] WHAT ARE “VALUES”…? Values are beliefs about what is good or bad. Your values determine what is desirable or undesirable. Values have an ethical and moral dimension. Your values provide you an internal reference for what is good, beneficial, important, useful, beautiful, desirable and constructive. Values generate behaviour and influence the choices made by an individual. Values have a major influence on your behaviour and attitude in various situations. Examples of Values include HONESTY, LOYALTY, AMBITION, ALTRUISM, CLEANLINESS, CONFIDENCE, CONFORMITY, CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY, DARING, DECISIVENESS, DEPENDABILITY, DISCIPLINE, INDEPENDENCE, INDIVIDUALITY, OBEDIENCE, PATRIOTISM, PUNCTUALITY, SENSE OF HUMOR, SIMPLICITY, WEALTH etc (The list of values is endless – you can surf the internet to see lists of values – and – you may discover your own personal values by introspection) Values can be categorised into two types: 1. INSTRUMENTAL VALUES and 2. TERMINAL VALUES My article below elaborates on these two types of values… INSTRUMENTAL VALUES and TERMINAL VALUES THE TWO TYPES OF VALUES Musings on Management Ethics By VIKRAM KARVE Values are of two types – in both the personal and organizational domains. The two types of values are: 1. INSTRUMENTAL VALUES and 2. TERMINAL VALUES Let me explain a bit about these two types of values. INSTRUMENTAL VALUES Instrumental Values are core values. Instrumental Values are permanent in nature. Instrumental Values comprise personal characteristics and character traits. Instrumental Values refer to preferable modes of behaviour and include values like honesty, sincerity, ambition, independence, obedience, imaginativeness, courageousness, competitiveness – and also some negative traits too. Organisations also have Instrumental Values (which can be ascertained from the organizational culture). Whether at personal level or organizational level – instrumental values are permanent in nature – and so – instrumental values are difficult to change. For example – the instrumental values of a Public Sector Unit (PSU) will differ from that of an Multi-National Corporation (MNC) – though both may be in the same business. Since they are permanent in nature – Instrumental Values are difficult to change. TERMINAL VALUES In our personal lives – Terminal Values are those things that we work towards – or those things we think are most important – or things that we feel are most desirable. Terminal Values are desirable states of existence. Terminal Values include things like happiness, self respect, family security, recognition, freedom, inner harmony, comfortable life, professional excellence, etc In a nutshell – Terminal Values signify the objectives of the life of a person – the ultimate things the person wants to achieve through his or her behaviour – the destination the person wants to reach in life. In contrast – Instrumental Values indicate the methods an individual would like to adopt for achieving his life’s aim – the path he would like to take to reach his destination. This applies to organisations as well – and – organizations too exhibit Terminal Values. However – Terminal Values can be changed – and this change in Terminal Values can sometimes be seen – when there is a change of Top Management or CEO. CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR “VALUES”…? INSTRUMENTAL VALUES – NO TERMINAL VALUES – YES Read this Before you Apply for a Job or Select a Career (or Before Recruiting a Candidate for a Job) ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AND ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOUR Organisational Values are the key to organisational behaviour. So – before you join an organization – you must ensure that there is no conflict in your personal Instrumental Values and the organization’s Instrumental Values Yes – there must be no conflict between the Employee’s and Employer’s Instrumental Values – since – Instrumental Values are difficult to change. Conversely – the organisation must consider this aspect while interviewing a prospective candidate for recruitment to avoid conflict of Instrumental Values. However – any mismatch in Terminal Values can be corrected by suitable Induction Training – since Terminal Values can be inculcated or realigned or changed. For Example: Do you want to join the Defence Services (Armed Forces) – the Army, the Navy or the Air Force…? Each Armed Force has its own unique Military Values. You too have your own personal Values – “Instrumental Values and “Terminal Values. If there is conflict between your own Personal Instrumental Values and Military Instrumental Values – it is best for you to avoid a military career in the Armed Forces. However – any mismatch between your Terminal Values and organisational Terminal Values can be corrected during Training. (For example – punctuality can be inculcated). This “Values Paradigm” applies to relationships like Marriage too. “Terminal Value” mismatches between husband and wife can be smoothed out. But – “Instrumental Value” conflicts may cause marital discord and result in irretrievable breakdown of relationship and divorce. The Dating/Courtship period is a good time to discover the Values (Instrumental and Terminal) of your Partner and ascertain whether there are any conflict or mismatches in Values between you and your partner. If there are some mismatches in “Terminal Values” you can make mutual adjustments to reconcile them and envisage a harmonious relationship. However – if there are irretrievable conflicts in “Instrumental Values” – it is best to call off the marriage. Dear Reader – introspect – and discover your values – your instrumental values – and – your terminal values. VIKRAM KARVE Copyright © Vikram Karve 1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post© vikram karve., all rights reserved. Disclaimer: 1. These are my personal views based on my personal experience. Please do your own due diligence while selecting a training philosophy. 2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Copyright Notice: No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright. Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved) This is an abridged, upgraded and revised version of my lecture on VALUES written be me Vikram Karve more than 25 years ago in the early 1990s and posted online earlier a number of times in my various blogs including in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog in 2011 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/12/instrumental-values-and-terminal-values.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/instrumental-values-and-terminal-values-the-two-types-of-pers… and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/06/types-of-values-instrumental-values-and.html and https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2018/02/values-instrumental-values-and-terminal.html etc […]
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