Motivation Flashcards
What is motivation?
the will to work
it comes from the enjoyment of the work itself/from the desire to achieve certain goals
desire or drive to complete the task
explain the benefit of reducing absenteeism and labour turnover from motivation
workforce will attend more regularly
output per worker/worker productivity improves
more efficient business
low labour turnover means fewer people leaving the business minimising recruitment costs and interruption to the business, resulting in higher productivity and lower costs
explain the benefit of improving productivity from
motivation
motivated workforce works harder and produces more output per person
business able to produce more per person
increasing productivity and therefore more efficient and profitable business
explain the benefit of improving quality from
motivation
workers more likely to take pride and ownership of their work
less likely to make mistakes resulting in higher-quality products meaning higher sales and more repeat business
explain the benefit of improving industrial relations from motivation
means that there is improved industrial relations with trade unions
explain the benefit of good reputation from motivation
contented workers give business good reputation as an employer
makes it easier to recruit best workers
what are financial motivators?
directly involved with monetary rewards
what are non-financial rewards?
indirectly brings monetary rewards but are targeted at providing psychological benefits for workers
what is the definition of piecework? what are 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of piecework/piece rate?
employees are paid per item produced
adv:
result in increased productivity due to incentive of producing as many items as possible
helps keep wage costs under control as if output falls so will wage of employee
disadv:
output could increase but at expense of quality which could have implications for customer satisfaction
low quality products could increase in scrap meaning higher costs on raw materials
what is the definition of fringe benefits? what are 2 advantages and 1 disadvantage of fringe benefits?
payments other than wages/salaries
include things like medical insurance, company cars, company laptops, subsidised meals
adv:
can be cheaper for employers adding these additional benefits rather than increasing pay as they do not have to pay national insurance contributions
some employees prefer benefits such as company cars therefore can be important for businesses to attract best candidates
disadv:
widespread use for the majority can increase costs
what is the definition of performance-related pay? what are 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of performance-related pay?
employees paid a bonus upon reaching specified targets
these targets usually agreed, reviewed and evaluated in appraisals
adv:
direct link between performance and reward which could be motivating
can increase productivity and quality
disadv:
rewarding individual employees can discourage team work
may be disputes regarding how performance is measured particularly in service-based industries
what is the definition of profit sharing? what are 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages of profit sharing?
a system whereby employees receive a proportion of the company’s profits
adv:
improve employee’s loyalty and break down ‘them and us’ barriers between management and employees
employees have a vested interest in success of the business
employees more likely to be flexible and accept changes to their working practices if they can see it increases profitability
disadv:
share given may be too small to act as a real incentive
employees may feel individual effort is not recognised especially if all employees receive the same share
what is the definition of share ownership? what are 2 advantages and 1 disadvantages of share ownership?
businesses offer the possibility of purchasing shares in the company and is usually reserved for the management and means employees are also shareholders
adv:
management has the incentive to make decisions that will increase profits
employees have a stake in the business and therefore may be less likely to leave
disadv:
could lead to resentment from employees as share ownership usually reserved for management
what is the definition of empowerment? what are 2 advantages and 3 disadvantages of empowerment?
allowing employees to take responsibility for decisions in a business
adv:
feel trusted
may make better decisions than managers as they are doing the job on a day-to-day basis
disadv:
given more responsibility without the reward of increased pay
costs could be incurred if employees require training to make decisions
managers may not always trust employees to delegate decision making
what is the definition of job enlargement? what is 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of job enlargement?
involves giving employees more work to do of a similar nature
adv:
avoids boredom associated with completing one task
disadv:
criticism as it is just giving employees more work to do which doesn’t solve the problem of boredom when completing repetitive tasks
what is the definition of job rotation? what are 2 advantages and 3 disadvantages of fringe benefits?
involves an employee changing tasks within/different departments
adv:
improves degree of flexibility which could reduce disruption if employees are ever absent
can prevent boredom and improve knowledge and skills making employee more eligible for promotion opportunities
disadv:
can take time for employee to learn new skills required for new tasks
some don’t like uncertainty of regularly changing job roles
not practical for all job roles especially if some require a higher degree of expertise
