Employee motivation

A manager who has an understanding of what the employee wants from work will have a better chance of having more satisfied and productive employees. Studies of employee motivation points out that people work for many different reasons. The reason or reasons a person behaves a certain way is called a motive. Employee motivation is the reason an employee works a certain way on the job. There are many explanations of what motivates employees. One theory was developed by A. Maslow. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory explains that an individual has many different levels of needs.

SELF-ACTUALIZING

Realizing of individual potential, creative talents, personal future fulfillment

ESTEEM

Self-prospect, respect of others, recognition, achievement

SOCIAL

Friendship, affection, acceptance

SAFETY

Security, protection from physical harm, freedom from fear of deprivation

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Food, water, air, rest, sex, shelter (from cold, storm)

This theory suggests that when one level of needs is satisfied, the next level has the greatest influence on a person’s behaviour.

Frederik Herzberg developed another theory of job satisfaction. It suggests that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction come from two different sets of factors. One set he referred to as ‘motivating’ factors, and the other set he called ‘hygiene’ factors. The motivating factors (recognition, achievement, responsibility, opportunity for advancement, and the job itself) relate to internal satisfaction and influence employees to improve their performance. The set of hygiene factors (salary, company policies, working conditions, and relationships with other employees) are separate from the job itself. He suggests that hygiene factors must be present in order to prevent job dissatisfaction, but it is that motivating factors that influence employees to maximize their performance on the job.

These theories show that employee performance is a complex topic to understand. Developing a work environment where the employee meets the needs of the business and the business meets the needs of the employee is what the most successful managers work at.

1. Are there other needs which you would add to the hierarchy? Where? Why?

2. Which of the following would motivate you to work harder ( bihgger salary, good team, job security, holidays, opportunities to travel, good working conditions, interesting, creative work, promotion opportunities, threat of redundancy, fringe benefits, hard working boss…)Choose your top five and rank them in order of priority.

3. Scripture maintains that man does not live by bread alone, but the need hierarchy suggests that man lives by bread alone when there is no bread. What does it mean?

The following two texts are devoted to the problem solving. Read both texts and prepare a summary- recommendation (or instruction) on “How to solve a problem”.

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