McClelland's Three Needs Motivation Theory

Question 1

McClelland’s theory of Needs
states that

Answer 1

There are 3 Learned/Acquired Needs by which people feel DRIVEN:

1) Need for ACHIEVEMENT
drive to succeed, excel, achive in relation to a set of standards

2) Need for POWER
to control others, to get desired things done

3) Need for AFFILIATION
friendship, good relationship

Question 2

Need for ACHIEVEMENT:

Characteristics

Answer 2

drive to succeed, excel, achieve in relation to a set of standards

1) CHALLENGING Work
2) Receive FEEDBACK
3) AVOID HIGH Risk & LOW Risk situations

Question 3

Need for POWER / Influence:

Characteristics

Answer 3

to control others, to get desired things done

1) Need to CONTROL others
2) High Value on DISCIPLINE
3) Thrive in COMPETITION
4) Can be used to ACHIEVE GROUP GOALS
despite group goals becoming Zero-Sum (for one person to win, another must lose)

Question 4

Need for AFFILIATION:

Characteristics

Answer 4

friendship, good relationship

1) TEAMWORK
2) COLLABORATION Over Competition
3) they like Reduced Risk UNCERTAINTY

Question 5

Types of Need for POWER

Answer 5

2 Types of Need for Power:

1) PERSONAL Power
want to direct others for Personal benefit

2) INSTITUTIONAL Power (SOCIAL Power)
organize the efforst of others to further Organizational Goals

Question 6

What are people with Achievement motives motivated by?

Answer 6

1. standards of excellence
2. delineated roles and responsibilites
3. timely feedback

Question 7

When are people with Affiliation motives motivated?

Answer 7

1. when they can accomplish things with people they know and trust.

Question 8

When are people with Power motives motivated?

Answer 8

1. when they can have an impact,
2. impress those in power
3. or beat competitors.

Question 9

Implication at Workplace
of McClelland’s theory of Needs

Answer 9

People with

1) Need for ACHIEVEMENT should be given
→Challenging Projects with Reachable goals
→Regular Feedback

2) Need for INFLUENCE/POWER should be given
→the opportunity to Manage Others

3) Need for AFFILIATION should be given
→Cooperative Environment

Question 10

McClelland’s theory of Needs
Disadvantages of the needs

Answer 10

1) Disadvantage of Need for POWER / INFLUENCE
1. they may not possess the required Flexibility and People-centered skills
2. group goals can become zero-sum in nature i.e. for one person to win, another must lose. However this can be +vely applied to help accomplish group goals and to help others in the group to feel competent about their work.

2) Disadvantage of Need for AFFILIATION
need to be liked affects manager’s decision-making capability

Question 11

As per McClelland's theory of Needs, people with high need for achievement favour
A. High Risk Situation
B. Low Risk Situation
C. Neither High Risk nor Low Risk Situation
D. High Risk if they are skilled & low risk if they are unskilled

Answer 11

C. Neither High Risk nor Low Risk Situation

Question 12

Which type of power is considered good under need of influence to achieve group goals
A. Social power
B. Personal power
C. Institutional power
D. Both A & C

Answer 12

D. Both A & C - Social power & Institutional power

Question 13

Disadvantage of Need for POWER / INFLUENCE

Answer 13

1. Managers with Need for INFLUENCE may provide Discipline & Work Ethics but they may LACK the ability to give FLEXIBILITY to their team, and people-centered skills, which is required for Executing certain Skilled Projects.
2. The downside to this motivational type is group goals can become zero-sum in nature i.e. for one person to win, another must lose. However this can be +vely applied to help accomplish group goals and to help others in the group to feel competent about their work.

Question 14

Disadvantage of Need for AFFILIATION

Answer 14

Hampers Manager’s OBJECTIVITY because they need to be Liked.
They may sometimes favour a Decision which is liked by Team members but not by Company.

Question 15

Discipline is a key issue for people driven by need for

A. Achievement
B. Power
C. Affiliation

Answer 15

Power

Question 16

Test used by McClelland theory to assess the dominant need?

Answer 16

Thematic Appreciation Test (TAT)

Question 17

Which theory is called Acquired Need theory?

Answer 17

McClelland’s theory of Achievement, Power & Affiliation

Question 18

Achievement Theory of Motivation was given by __________

Answer 18

McClelland

McClelland’s Three Need Theory is also called
Achievement Theory of Motivation

Question 19

As per McClelland's three needs theory, an effective manager gives priority to:
1. Achievement
2. Power
3. Affiliation

A. Only 3
B. 1 and 2
C. 2 and 3
D. 1 and 3

Answer 19

B. 1 and 2
Achievement and Power

Question 20

~~~
Choose the correct statements concerning McClelland’s theory of needs:

1. McClelland’s theory of needs revolves around three important aspects; safety, power, and affiliation.
2. In this theory, the three needs together are known as manifest needs.
3. David McClelland put forth this theory in his book “The Motivating Society”.

A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 3
D. Only 2
```

Answer 20

D. Only 2 is correct.
In McClelland’s theory, the three needs together are known as manifest needs.

Statement 1 and 3 are wrong.

Question 21

McClelland’s Three needs are also called

Answer 21

Acquired needs
Manifest needs

Question 22

Most of the content-based theories talk about higher and lower order needs that motivate an individual. Maslow’s theory talks about lower needs for food, safety, and social belongingness.
Which among the below theories cannot justify the fulfillment of needs such as food and safety as means of motivation?

A. Maslow’s theory

B. Herzberg’s Theory

C. Alderfer’s Theory

D. McClelland’s theory

E. Theory Y

Answer 22

D. McClelland’s theory

McClelland’s theory explains the
need for social belongingness (Affiliation),
need for esteem (Influence), and
need for self-actualization (Achievement).
This theory does not make reference to the needs of hunger and safety which are very lower-level needs.

Question 23

Individuals with a strong need for affiliation can be successful as ______A______ managers while people with a high need for power would be better suited as ______B______ managers.

Identify “A” and “B” from the given options.

A. High-level, low-level

B. Low-level, high-level

C. Low-level, middle-level

D. High-level, lower-level

E. High-level, middle-level

Answer 23

B. Low-level, high-level

Managers with strong affiliation needs can have a good relationship with teammates or subordinates but when they go to a higher level it would be tough for them to command others if they try to maintain that relationship.

Hence, B is the correct answer.

Question 24

Which of the following options, as per McClelland's theory of needs, would be the best one to achieve group goals?

A. Person with need for Affiliation
B. Person with need for Power
C. Person with need for Achievement
D. Person with Need for Affiliation but at Managerial Position
E. All of the above

Answer 24

B. Person with need for Power

Affiliation is good for being a good team member. But, to achieve the group goals and be responsible for them, the need for power is good.

Option D is ruled out because, McClelland’s motivation theory suggests that ‘affiliation-motivation’ undermines a manager’s objectivity, because of their need to be liked, and that this affects a manager’s decision-making capability.

Question 25

Manifest needs theory which categorizes needs into primary (biological needs like oxygen, food water) and secondary needs (generally referred to as psychological needs), is given by which of the following personalities?

A. Henry Fayol

B. Abraham Maslow

C. Henry Murray

D. David McClelland

E. None of the above

Answer 25

C. Henry Murray

Henry Murray’s Manifest needs theory assumes that human behaviour is driven by the desire to satisfy needs.
Manifest needs theory laid the groundwork for later theories, most notably McClelland’s learned needs theory.

Murray identified needs as one of two types:
1. Primary needs:
Primary needs are basic needs that are based upon biological demands, such as the need for oxygen, food, and water.
2. Secondary needs:
Secondary needs are generally psychological, such as the need for nurturing, independence, and achievement.
While these needs might not be fundamental for basic survival, they are essential for psychological well-being.