IB Business and
Management
2.4 Motivation in theory
Learning Outcomes
The following motivation theories: (AO3)
• Taylor
• Maslow
• Herzberg (motivation–hygiene theory)
• Adams (equity theory)
• Pink
Essential Question
What is the best way
for organisations to
motivate their workers
What is motivation? What does it mean if someone is
motivated? Where does motivation come from?
WHAT IS MOTIVATION?
What is Motivation?
The factors that make a person want to do
something
To get the best out of workers firms need to
understand why people work and what might
make them willing to work harder.
What is the difference
between Intrinsic and
Extrinsic Motivation?
Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic
-Can you think
of any
examples?
-What might
make motivation
might come from
within?
-What else could
create
motivation?
Why does motivation matter? What benefits will it bring to an
organisation?
THE IMPORTANCE OF
MOTIVATION?
Why is Motivation Important?
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Higher productivity
Better customer service
Improved teamwork
Lower absenteeism
Lower labour turnover
These all lead to LOWER COSTS or HIGHER
REVENUES and therefore HIGHER
PROFITS
Motivation Theories
There are many psychologists who have come
up with theories about what motivates
workers. We are going to look at some of
these:
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Taylor
Maslow
Herzberg (motivation–hygiene theory)
Adams (equity theory)
Pink
WHAT DO THE THEORISTS
SAY
Frederick W Taylor
 Famous for applying his principles
of scientific management to the
world of work.
 Taylor was interested to see
whether a job or work could be
redesigned to increase efficiency.
 He tried to break down tasks into
smaller steps and look at exactly
how production actually worked.
Task
• Watch the video clip ‘Ford and Taylor
Scientific Management’
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PdmNbq
tDdI
Answer the questions on the following slide
Questions:
• What were Taylor’s core principles?
• What were the benefits of Taylor’s
approach?
• What were the problems of Taylor’s
approach?
• What was Taylor’s view on pay?
• What do you think Herzberg would think of
Taylor’s principles?
Taylor’s Views In a Nutshell…..
• Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856 – 1917) put forward
the idea that workers are motivated mainly by pay.
• His Theory of Scientific Management argued that
workers do not naturally enjoy work and so need
close supervision and control
• Managers should break down production into a
series of small tasks Workers should then be given
appropriate training and tools so they can work as
efficiently as possible on one set task.
• He advocated Piece Rate Pay
• Henry Ford adopted Taylors approach, as it
increases productivity and reduces unit costs.
In the long-term, what were the problems with Taylor’s methods?
Is his approach still relevant in the modern world?
Abraham Maslow – Hierarchy of
Needs
• Abraham Maslow (1908 –
1970) introduced his
Hierarchy of Needs, which
focused on the
psychological needs of
employees.
• Maslow put forward a
theory that there are five
levels of human needs
which employees need to
have fulfilled at work.
• All of the needs are
structured into a hierarchy
and only once a lower level
of need has been fully met,
would a worker be
motivated by the
opportunity of having the
next need up in the
hierarchy satisfied.
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
Self
Actualisation
Needs
Esteem
Needs
Social Needs
Safety Needs
Basic Needs
Task
Brainstorm What can
firms do to
help workers
reach the
different levels
of the
hierarchy?
Frederick Herzberg – Motivator –
Hygiene Theory
Herzberg said that there are
two types of factors that
affect workers motivation
• Motivator Factors – Factors
which if present will
motivate staff
• Hygiene Factors – Factors
which will not in
themselves motivate, but
will demotivate staff if they
are not present
He also differentiated
between Motivation and
Movement
Motivator or Hygiene? What do
you think?
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Sufficient rest breaks
Opportunities for promotion
Access to training
A clean and safe working environment
Good relationships with people at work
Decent pay
Recognition for good work
Job security
Being given responsibility
Opportunities to take part in CSR activities
Task
Watch the video ‘Jumping for Jellybeans’
Frederick Herzberg might appear to be slightly
eccentric, but what do you think of his theory?
Consider the questions on the followuing slide
Questions:
• What are the 2 types of factors that
Herzberg identifies?
• What are some examples of these 2 factors?
• What is the difference between movement
and motivation?
• What is job enrichment?
• What is meant by KITA?
In summary…….
• Herzberg developed the idea of job satisfaction
• In the right circumstances, people can get pleasure
from their work
• If people enjoy their work they will be MOTIVATED
• Herzberg stated that MOTIVATION (intrinsic) is
different to MOVEMENT (extrinsic)
John Stacey Adams - Equity
Theory
• He put forward his
Equity Theory on job
motivation in 1963.
• When people feel fairly
or advantageously
treated they are more
likely to be motivated;
when they feel unfairly
treated they are highly
prone to feelings of
disaffection and
demotivation.
Equity Theory
• Emphasis on 'what is fair and reasonable’
• Individuals, seek a fair balance between
what we put into our job and what we get out
of it.
• Adams calls these inputs and outputs.
• Individuals form perceptions of what
constitutes a fair balance or trade of inputs
and outputs by comparing their own
situation with colleagues, friends and
partners (referent others)
Equity Theory
People need to feel that
there is a fair balance
between inputs and outputs.
Outputs……
Inputs….
financial
effort, loyalty,
rewards - pay,
hard work,
salary,
commitment,
expenses,
skill, ability,
bonus and
adaptability,
commission
flexibility, etc.
intangibles recognition,
reputation,
praise,
promotion, etc.
If employees feel are that inputs are fairly and adequately rewarded by outputs
(the fairness benchmark being subjectively perceived from market norms and
other comparative references) then they are happy in our work and motivated
to continue inputting at the same level.
Daniel Pink
• Wrote a book in 2009
called ‘Drive: The
surprising truth about
what motivates us’
Video
Let’s let Daniel Pink explain his theory himself.
Watch the video.
RSA Animate – Drive_ the surprising truth
about what motivates us
What are your thoughts??
Motivation at Foxconn
Watch the video.
You will then apply
the motivation
theories we have
learned about to
make suggestions on
how motivation at
Foxconn could be
improved.
Task
Each group takes on the theory of a
motivational theorist:
• Taylor
• Maslow
• Herzberg
• Adams
• Pink
Assuming you are following one motivational
theory, write detailed suggestions on how
motivation could be increased.
Reflection
• Which of the motivation theories that we
have learned about have similarities?
• Which motivation theorist do you agree with
most? Explain your answer.