MOTIVATION
BOH4M
What is motivation?
◦ Motivation is the internal and external factors that drive you to be continually
interested, committed and push yourself to exert persistent effort in attaining a goal.
◦ Motivation is the energizer of behaviour and the “mother of all action”.
◦ Motivation is derived from needs, rewards, and expectations.
Needs vs. Wants
◦ A need is a motivating hunger that compels someone to action. Needs range from
basic survival needs to social needs. Needs are finite, whereas wants are limitless.
◦ A want is a desire or wish that is not a necessity but we often think they are.
Rewards
◦ A reward is the positive outcome of work or some action.
◦ Two common types of rewards:
◦ An intrinsic reward is derived internally where someone finds personal satisfaction in a job well
done.
◦ An extrinsic reward is a reward provided externally by someone else. For example, your
manager praises you for meeting a deadline and working hard.
Why is motivation important for
managers?
Theories of Motivation
1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
2. Alderfer's ERG Theory
3. Herzberg's Two Factor Theory
4. McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory
5. Goal Setting Theory
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
◦ Based on the assumption that humans are motivated by unsatisfied needs.
◦ Lower needs or the bottom of the triangle have to be satisfied before higher needs can
be satisfied.
How can Maslow’s Hierarchy be
applied in an organization?
Alderfer's ERG Theory
◦ E = Existence
◦ R = Relatedness
◦ G = Growth
Alderfer's ERG Theory
◦ developed in reaction Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
◦ Alderfer determined three categories of human needs that influenced a worker's
behaviour: existence, relatedness, and growth.
◦ Alderfer's categories match up with Maslow's needs.
◦ The difference between the ERG theory and Maslow's theory is that Alderfer did not
believe the lower level needs had to be met before a person could start satisfying
higher level needs.
◦ He also theorized that if some people experience frustration in satisfying a need they
can regress back to previous needs.
How can ERG Theory be applied in
and organization?
Herzberg's Two Factor Theory
◦ Fredrick Herzberg carried out studies to determine what satisfied and dissatisfied
employees in their work environment. He interviewed employees and determined what
factors gave them job satisfaction and what factors gave them job dissatisfaction.
◦ He determined motivator factors created job satisfaction and
◦ hygiene factors created job dissatisfaction.
◦ He called the factors causing dissatisfaction hygiene factors because in a sense they
are the maintenance factors that are necessary to avoid dissatisfaction, but they
themselves do not provide satisfaction.
How can Two Factor Theory be
applied in an organization?
◦ Herzberg found that you can improve the hygiene factors and employees will be less
dissatisfied, but no more satisfied with their work.
◦ He found that if managers focus on the motivator factors, which improve job content,
employees will be more satisfied.
◦ Managers need to ensure employees feel a sense of achievement, are recognized for
their efforts, are given a sense of responsibility, given opportunities for advancement,
and are encouraged to grow.
◦ Employees that are satisfied with their jobs perform better and are more efficient.
◦ The whole organization benefits from maximizing human resources potential
McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory
◦ McClelland determined that human motivation is dominated by three needs: the need
for achievement, the need for power, and the need for affiliation.
◦ In his theory every individual will acquire these needs throughout their lifetime from life
experiences and cultural background. However, one will be dominant depending on
personality.
How can Acquired Needs Theory be
applied in an organization?
◦ High need for achievement  best leaders, demanding
◦ High need for power  attracted to leadership roles, but may want power for their
own benefit
◦ High need for affiliation  not well suited for leadership because their drive for social
relationships could undermine their decision-making capabilities
Goal Setting Theory
◦ Developed by Locke
◦ Used by management systems today.
◦ It is acclaimed by some as the most valid and useful motivation theory.
◦ Locke determined in his research that employees are motivated by clear goals and
appropriate feedback.
◦ Locke's research determined that specific and difficult goals led to better task
performance than vague or easy goals.
How can Goal Setting Theory be
applied in an organization?
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyuZWDX55mI
◦ The Last Lecture
Management Journal Response
1. As a future manager how will these theories and what you studied impact how you
manage people?
2. If you managed people your age and at the same point of their life cycle as you,
what would be their most important needs to be met? How would you, as a
manager, use the information from today’s lesson to motivate these individuals?
Thinking_______/10