Management 12.2: Content Perspectives on Employee Motivation

Needs

Defined as psychological or physiological deficiencies that arouse behavior. They can be strong or weak, and because they are influenced by environmental factors they can very over time and from place to place.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

Proposed that work satisfaction and dissatisfaction arise from two different factors- work satisfaction from motivating factors and work dissatisfaction from hygiene factors.

Acquired Needs Theory

States that three needs- achievement, affiliation, and power- are major motives determining people's behavior in the work place.

Alderfer's ERG Theory: (1) Existence Needs

The desire for physiological and material well-being.

McClelland's Two Forms of Power: Personal Power

The negative kind, as expressed in the desire to dominate others, and involves manipulating people for one's own gratification.

McClelland's Two Forms of Power: Institutional Power

The positive kind, as expressed in the need to solve problems that further organizational goals.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: (1) Physiological Needs

These are the most basic human physical needs, in which one is concerned with having food, clothing, shelter, and comfort and with self-preservation.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: (2) Safety Needs

These needs are concerned with physical safety and emotional security, so that a person is concerned with avoiding violence and threats.

McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory: Achievement

"I need to excel at tasks." This is the desire to excel, to do something better or more efficiently, to solve problems, to achieve excellence in challenging tasks.

Frederick Herzberg

arrived at his needs-based theory as a result of a landmark study of 203 accountants and engineers, who were interviewed to determine the factors responsible for job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Two-factor theory.

David McClelland

well-known psychologist investigated the needs for affiliation, power, and as a consequence proposed the acquired needs theory. Believes that we are not born with our needs; rather we learn them from the culture- from our life experiences.

McClelland's Three Needs: Control Freak

Achievement is normal but affiliation is small and power is large.

McClelland's Three Needs: Well Balanced

Achievement, affiliation, and power are of equal size.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: (4) Esteem Needs

After they meet their social needs, people focus on such matters as self-respect, status, reputation, recognition, and self-confidence.

Content Perspectives

Also known as need-base perspectives are theories that emphasize the needs that motivate people. "What kind of needs motivate employees in the workplace?"

Alderfer's ERG Theory: (3) Growth Needs

Are the desire to grow as human beings and to use our abilities to their fullest potential.

Alderfer's ERG Theory: (2) Relatedness Needs

Are the desire to have meaningful relationships with people who are significant to us.

Alderfer's ERG Theory

Assumes that three basic needs influence behavior- existence, relatedness, and growth, represented by the letter E, R, and G.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: (3) Love Needs

Once basic needs and security are taken care of, people look for love, friendship, and affection.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Motivation Factors

"What will make my people satisfied?" The higher level needs. Are factors associated with job satisfaction- such as achievement, recognition, responsibility, and advancement- all of which the job content or the rewards of work performance. Examples: Achievement, Recognition, The work itself, Responsibility, Advancement & growth.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Hygiene Factors

"Why are my people dissatisfied?" The lower-level needs. Are factors associated with job dissatisfaction- such as salary, working conditions, interpersonal relationships, and company policy- all of which affect the job context in which people work. Examples: Pay & Security, Working conditions, Interpersonal relationships, Company policy, and Supervisors.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(1) physiological, (2) safety, (3) love, (4) esteem, (5) self-actualization.

McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory: Affiliation

"I need close relationships." This is the desire for friendly and warm relations with other people.

McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory: Power

"I need to control others." This is the desire to be responsible for other people, to influence their behavior or to control them.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: (5) Self-Actualization

The highest level of need. It is self-fulfillment- the need to develop one's fullest potential, to become the best one is capable of being.