Motivation 2.2 Flashcards
Define the term “Motivation”
The internal and external factors that stimulate people to take action that lead to achieving a goal.
What are the conclusions that Mayo’s Hawthorne research?
- Changes in working conditions and financial rewards have a little or no effect on productivity.
- When managers consult with workers and take an interest in a worker’s work, then motivation is improved.
- Working in teams and developing team spirit can improve motivation.
- When some control over their own working lives is given to workers there is a positive motivational effect.
- Groups can establish their own targets or norms and these can be greatly influenced by the informed leaders of the group.
Define the term “Motivating factors”
Aspects of a worker’s job that can lead to positive job satisfaction.
What are the main motivators according to Herzberg?
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Meaningful and interesting work
- Advancements at work
Define the term “Hygiene factors”
Aspects of a worker’s job that might cause dissatisfaction.
What are the hygiene factors according to Herzberg?
- Pay
- Working conditions
- Status
- Over-supervision by managers
Define the term “Job enrichment”
Workers will have an opportunity to do more challenging and fulfilling work.
Why did McClellend believe that achievement was so important to motivation?
David McClelland believed that the need for achievement drives people to set and achieve challenging goals. High achievers seek moderately difficult tasks, value feedback, and aim to excel and improve.
What are the common payment systems?
- Time based wage rates
- Piece rate
- Salary
- Commission
- Performance related pay and bonuses
- Profit sharing
- Fringe benefits
Define the term “Time based wage rate”
Payment to a worker made for each period of time worked.
Define the term “Piece rate”
A payment to a worker for each unit produced.
List 2 Advantages of the Piece Rate system.
- It encourages greater effort and faster working
- The labor cost for each unit is determined in advance this helps to set a price for the product.
List 3 Disadvantages of the Piece Rate system.
Answers may include :
- It requires output to be measure-able and standardized.
- It may lead to falling quality and safety levels as workers rush to complete units.
- Workers may settle for a certain pay level and therefore won’t feel the need to produce more units.
- It provides little security over pay level.
- Workers are discouraged from accepting change at work as this might result in loss of pay.
Define the term “Salary”
An annual income that is usually paid on a monthly basis.
List 3 Advantages of salary.
Answers may include :
- It provides security of income.
- It gives status compared to time based or piece rate payment systems.
- It aids in costing.
- It is suitable for jobs where outputs aren’t measure-able.
- It is suitable for management positions where staff are expected to put in extra time to complete a task or assignment.
List 3 Disadvantages of salary.
- Income is not related to effort levels or productivity.
- It may lead to complacency of the salary earner
- Regular appraisal may be needed to assess whether an individual should move up a salary band. (This can be an advantage if this becomes a positive form of worker appraisal.
Define the term “Commission”
A payment to a sales person for each sale made.
Define the term “Bonus”
A payment made in addition to the contracted wage or salary.
Define the term “Performance related pay” (PRP)
A bonus scheme to reward staff for above-average work performance.
Define the term “Profit Sharing”
A bonus for staff based on the profits of the business.
Define the term “Fringe benefits”
Benefits given, separate from pay, by an employer to some or all employees.
What are the non-financial methods of motivation?
- Job rotation
- Job enrichment
- Job enlargement
Define the term “Job Rotation”
Increasing the flexibility of employees and variety of work they do by switching from one job to another.
Define the term “Job Enlargement”
Attempting to increase the scope of a job by adding more tasks or making the tasks more complex.
List 2 Advantages of performance related pay.
- Staff will be motivated to improve performance if they are seeking an increase in financial rewards.
- Target setting can help to give purpose and direction to the work of an individual
List 3 Disadvantages of performance related pay.
- It can fail to motivate if staff are not driven by the needs to earn additional financial rewards.
- Team spirit can be damaged by the rivalry generated by the competitive nature of PRP.
- claims of managers favoritism can harm manage-subordinate relationship.
List 3 Advantages of profit sharing.
Answers may include :
- Potential conflict between owners and workers is reduced as everyone now has an interest in higher profits.
- They are designed to lead to higher worker effort levels and a greater preparedness to accept cost reduction measures and changes that benefit the business.
- The business is likely to attract better recruits drawn by the chance of profit sharing or owning shares in the business.
- As the bonuses are paid out of profits, the scheme does not add to business costs, unlike a normal increase in pay levels.
List 3 disadvantages of profit sharing.
Answers may include :
- The reward offered is not closely related to individual effort.
- The schemes can be costly to set up and operate, especially in large firms with many employees.
- Small profit shares paid at the end of the financial year are unlikely to promote motivation throughout the year.
- Workers share-ownership schemes can increase the total number of shares issued and dilute the value of existing shares.
Define the term “Job redesign”
Involves the restructuring of a job to make work more interesting.
Define the term “Quality circles”
Voluntary groups of workers who meet regularly to discuss work-related issues and problems.
Define the term “Worker participation”
Workers are actively encouraged to become involved in decision making within the organization.
Define the term “Team-working”
Production is organized so that groups of workers undertake complete units of work.
List 3 Advantages of team-working.
Answers may include :
- Workers are likely to be better motivated as social and esteem needs are likely to be met according to Maslow. By empowering workers within teams, job enrichment can be achieved.
- Better motivated staff should increase productivity and reduce labor turnover.
- Team-working makes fuller use of all of the talents of the workforce. Better solutions to problems will be found as those most closely connected with the work participate in suggesting answers.
- Complete units of work can be given to teams.
List 3 Disadvantages of team-working.
- Not everyone is a team player, some individuals are more effective working alone. When teams are formed, this point must be considered and training may need to take place to ensure that the team is used to working together collaboratively. Some workers may feel left out of the team meetings unless there are good efforts to involve and encourage all the team members.
- Teams can develop a set of values and attitudes which may contract or conflict with those of the organization itself, particularly if there is a dominant personality in the group. Teams will need clear goals and assessment procedures to ensure that they are working towards the objectives of the organization at all times.
- The introduction of team-working will require training costs to be incurred and there may be some disruption to production as the teams establish themselves.
List Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from top to bottom.
- SELF-ACTUALIZATION : Reaching one’s full potential.
- ESTEEM NEEDS : Respect from others; status; recognition of achievement.
- SOCIAL NEEDS : Trust; acceptance; friendship; belonging to a group; social facilities.
- SAFETY NEEDS : Protection from threats; job security; health and safety at work.
- PHYSICAL NEEDS : Food; shelter; water; rest.
Define the term “Job enrichment”
Giving employees more challenging and interesting tasks
Define the term “Empowerment”
Delegating power to employees so they can make their own decisions.
Define the term “Promotion”
Promoting employees to a position of higher responsibility.
How can better communication have a positive motivational effect ?
Employees have a change to give feedback and advice to managers.
How can a better working environment have a positive effect on motivation ?
Providing a safe, clean, comfortable environment to work.
