Oxford Brookes University
Research and analysis report
Project Topic 6
The identification of key factors or indicators in the motivation of employees in an organization of your choice.
By: ACCA Student No :
April 2006
4,867 words
1
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Reason for choosing the topic Aims and objectives Company background Definition of motivation Key factors of motivation Motivation models and theories
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2
Information Gathering
2.1 2.2 2.3 Secondary research Primary research Limitations
3
Analysis and Findings
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Financial incentives Rewards and recognition Training Career advancement Flexible working
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He placed the most basic needs at the bottom of the pyramid and the most advanced needs at the top of the pyramid. According to Maslow , when people satisfy one level of need, they then move up to the next level. In his theory, the most basic need is the survive – to have enough money to buy food, shelter and necessary clothes. When they have satisfied the need for survival, they then need to feel safe and secure – perhaps from unemployment. So that second level of need is the security. After that, people need to belong to a group and to have friends – these are their social needs. They then move on the needing status. At this stage they need to be respected in the community, to be esteemed, and to be given recognition for what they do. When all these needs have been satisfied, people finally have self-actualization needs. This is ambition to achieve as much as they possibly can – perhaps to be promoted to high-level position with more responsibility. (Jane, 1999) 4
Self actualization
Esteem needs Social needs Safety needs Physiological needs Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Herzberg’s two-factor theory Psychologist Frederick Herzberg developed a ‘two-factor’ theory for motivation based on ‘motivators’ and ‘hygience factors’. Hygience factors are basic human needs at work. It do not motivate but failure to meet them causes dissatisfaction. The hygience factors
Motivation is derived from an internal force that provides an individual the opportunity to achieve their needs or goals. People are motivated by a variety of things and often have different motivating factors. Employers should be mindful of individual motivating factors when attempting to motivate staff to increase performance. While some people may be motivated by money, many are motivated by things like: recognition, promotion, and increased responsibility. Once an employer has identified motivating factors they are able to analyze a variety of motivational theories to design and implement a program that will motivate employees to go above and beyond what is expected of them.
As many psychologists know, Maslow came up with his hierarchy of needs to help explain human behavior. Maslow believed that lower needs had to be met before higher needs, so as people grow, they move up on the scale and move down when needs are not met. Throughout our lives we go up and down these stages, although most people never achieve self-actualization, the last of the needs.
Employee equality, job security, and fair wages are considered some of the hygiene factors that exist in a workplace environment (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009). Frederick Herzberg used these elements along with motivational factors to create a theory of motivation, known as Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow, organizing humanities most basic needs. (Martin and Joomis, 2007). Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often represented in the shape of a pyramid with the largest, most fundamental levels of needs at the base and the need for self-actualization at the peak. The pyramid itself is irrelevant, however it has become the de facto way to represent the hierarchy. The hierarchy depicts physiological needs as the most basic need, which includes air, water, food, clothing, shelter, and sexual instinct.
The key to an organization's success is motivation. Motivation of employees is one of the most important issues facing education today. The need to instill our employees with motivation is becoming more important especially with the shift towards a more socially and culturally responsive workforce. Knowing what motivates employees, how to provide a motivational plan that includes incentives both traditional (money) and nontraditional elements, keeping our focused on the plan and giving them the tools they need to make the plan successful, and what effect will the motivational plan have on the working atmosphere of our organization are all vital topics to tae into
According to Abraham Maslow all humans have certain requirements that must be met so they may reach their full potential. Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be envisioned as a pyramid, with the basic needs forming the foundation and the higher needs at the top. There are four basic needs that must be fulfilled before one can begin to gain their full potential: physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, and bodily comforts, the need for safety and security, the individual must feel out of danger, the need to feel belongingness and love, individuals must associate with others and be accepted, and the need for self-esteem, which comes from accomplishments, competence, approval and recognition. After the basic needs are met people can then begin satisfy their higher needs. These are our cognitive needs, aesthetic needs, need to self-actualize, and finally at the
When running a business, one would have to hire employees who perform well and product and or quality is of the same caliber. The key to an employee performance is motivation. The expression, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot force it to drink water, can be seen within the human race.
Motivation in the workplace is one of the major concerns that managers face when trying to encourage their employees to work harder and do what is expected of them on a day-to-day basis. According to Organizational Behavior by John R. Schermerhorn, James G. Hunt and Richard N. Osborn the definition of motivation is "the individual forces that account for the direction, level, and persistence of a person's effort expended at work." They go on to say that "motivation is a key concern in firms across the globe." Through the years there have been several theories as to what motivates employees to do their best at work. In order to better understand these theories we will apply them to a fictitious organization that has the following
According to the provided YouTube video, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is based on basic needs that must be established before other levels of the needs can be obtained. Maslow categorized this needs by deficiency and growth needs. At the base of the hierarchy lies physiological needs, which include our basic needs to live, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. Next on the hierarchy is safety needs, which includes home, job, medical and financial safety. Next up on the hierarchy is emotional needs, people need friends to contribute to the feeling of love and give them a sense of belonging. Afterwards, esteem needs have to be put in to place. On the hierarchy esteem includes self-respect, attention, recognition, reputation and achievement. Lastly, at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy lies self-actualization. This is the last need that we as individuals have to obtain in order to feel secure and be content with our lives.
Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs is designed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943. It claims that within every human being, there exists a hierarchy of needs (Robbins and Judge). In the simple term, it means that we as human are motivated to achieve certain needs in all aspects of our lives. Our basic needs are inherent and deep-seated and we do everything in our power to acquire those needs. The theory consists of five state models, starting from the most basic needs at the bottom of a pyramid to the most complex needs at the top of a pyramid. According to the theory, we must satisfy each need and start from the lower levels in order to
Mr. Ely, the CEO, knew that motivation of employees was important because of its significance as a determinant of performance and its intangible nature. Motivation is the set of forces that cause people to choose certain behaviors from among the many alternatives open to them and is key to the success of any business. Mr. Ely hired a consulting firm to determine
Motivation is the desire to behave in a particular way or the willingness to do something. Motivating within a workplace or an organization is defined as “psychological processes that cause the arousal, direction, and persistence of voluntary actions that are goal directed”. Organizations depend on their employees and managers to work towards their mission and goals. In order to achieve the common goals organizations incorporate motivational factors which promotes and meets the expectations as well as the needs of employees. Also, to promote learning and productivity, organizations initiate motivation among employees. Organizations face the dilemma of sustaining employees due to lack of motivation because employees wrestles to balance work life and their personal life. Organizations try to develop motivational strategies that help increase productivity and performance, and has a significant effect or impact on the management and on the employees. Google is one such organization which is known for its motivational factors of different forms. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of motivation. There are also ways in which attempts to motivation incorporated within an organization can go wrong. Therefore, organizations need to learn the importance of motivation and its effect on productivity. Organizations also need to sustain job satisfaction of employees by adjusting the job design and the job task.
Motivation originates from the word "move" and represents the reasons for people 's actions, desires, and needs. Motivation can be considered as the arousal, direction and maintenance of human behavior towards attaining some goal (Greenberg, J. and Baron, R.A. in Buelens et al., 2011).Motivating employees is vital if employers are willing to achieve maximum performance and productivity. The company shall attach great importance on its staff incentive system to enhance the loyalty and professional dedication of staff.
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