As an example, let’s say that you are the manager of a store who needs to have work behavior (B) done in your store. So, you hire a new employee. You both sign a contract (A), the employee comes into the store and works (B), and you pay them (C). In this situation, working behavior is likely to be maintained.
Let’s try manipulating the Antecedent (A) in the equation by removing the work contract. In the absence of a contract or other kind of work agreement, you would likely never find anyone who will just walk into your store and start doing work for you. In this circumstance, work behavior (B) would probably never even start. Even if you were willing to pay a paycheck (C), without the proper antecedent, you probably won’t come into contact with the work behavior (B) that you desire.
Now let’s examine what would happen if you alter the Consequence (C) in the equation, by withholding pay. You hire a new employee (A), they come in and work (B), but when payday comes, you flake out and withhold the paycheck. Odds are that this particular worker will never come work for you again. Work behavior (B) has likely been eliminated altogether.