Motivation In Theory

Question 1

Taylor and Scientific Management- why do people work harder?

Answer 1

‘Money motivates’- people only work harder to maximise their own income. So money should be used as an incentive to get people to work harder

Question 2

Taylor’s beliefs as to how work as a whole should be organised.

Answer 2

Break the task down into small, simple repetitive parts.

Design a payment system that rewards each worker each time they complete their task

Question 3

Example of how Taylor’s work is still visible today

Answer 3

Commission/ piece rate pay to incentivise more work being completed

Question 4

Limitations of Taylor’s idea/ theory

Answer 4

Extremely unpopular with workers. They felt treated like pieces of machinery and denied the opportunity to use their minds at work.
They were also resentful of the level of control that the work process and payment method gave employers.

Question 5

What was Elton Mayo’s theory?

Answer 5

Human relations theory

Question 6

What did his work stem from?

Answer 6

A range of experiments he conducted into the effectiveness of ‘Taylorism’

Question 7

What did Mayo discover?

Answer 7

That there were more factors affecting workplace performance than money. Importance of interpersonal relations as a factor affecting productivity.

Question 8

According to Mayo, what do workers gain satisfaction from?

Answer 8

A certain level of freedom and control over their working environment

Question 9

According to Mayo, who works more effectively?

Answer 9

Workers who feel they belong to a team

Question 10

According to Mayo, what has a strong influence over workers’ behaviour and productivity?

Answer 10

Group norms (what people in a team expect of each other)

Question 11

According to Mayo, what else has a beneficial impact on workers’ performance?

Answer 11

Managers taking an active personal interest in their employees

Question 12

What is at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 12

Physical needs

Question 13

What is in the hierarchy of needs? (Bottom to top)

Answer 13

Physical, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs and self actualisation

Question 14

What did Maslow believe?

Answer 14

Humans have five sets of needs that can be arranged in a hierarchy, with the most basic needs of life at the bottom and the higher-level needs at the top. Meeting each level of needs is a priority until they are met, when a person will focus on the next unsatisfied level of needs.

Question 15

Business implications of physical needs

Answer 15

Pay levels and working conditions

Question 16

Business implications of safety needs

Answer 16

Job security, a clear job role/ description, clear lines of accountability

Question 17

Business implications of Maslow’s social needs

Answer 17

Team working, communications, social facilities

Question 18

Business implications of esteem needs

Answer 18

Status, recognition for achievement, power, trust

Question 19

Business implications of self-actualisation

Answer 19

Scope to develop new skills and meet new challenges, and to develop one’s full potential.

Question 20

Herzberg’s definition of motivation

Answer 20

Doing something because you want to do it

Question 21

Herzberg’s definition of movement

Answer 21

Doing something to get a reward or avoid a punishment

Question 22

What is Herzberg’s general line of argument in terms of motivation?

Answer 22

Motivated workers give you their best performance all the time, are willing to embrace change an are great at solving problems.

Question 23

In Herzberg’s ‘Two-factor theory’, what are the factors affecting people at work?

Answer 23

‘Motivators’ and ‘Hygiene Factors’

Question 24

What are Herzberg’s 5 motivators?

Answer 24

Achievement
Recognition for achievement
Meaningful, interesting work
Responsibility
Advancement (a sense of growth as a person)

Question 25

How did Herzberg feel about money?

Answer 25

It is a hygiene factor and while offering bonuses can generate movement, it does not motivate

Question 26

Why must hygiene factors be met?

Answer 26

To prevent an employee from feeling dissatisfied

Question 27

5 Hygiene factors

Answer 27

Company policy and administration (rules and paperwork involved in working for the business)
Supervision
Pay
Interpersonal relations (with peers, bosses or subordinates)
Working conditions

Question 28

What did Herzberg argue about dissatisfied workers?

Answer 28

It is impossible to motivate them

Question 29

What happens if hygiene needs are met but not motivators?

Answer 29

Workers will give movement (not their best- only enough to gain reward or avoid threat)

Question 30

What happens if motivators are met, but hygiene not satisfied?

Answer 30

Employee will be resentful of their job and, no matter how interesting the work is, will perform poorly- and look for another job

Question 31

According to Herzberg, what happens if both hygiene needs and motivator needs are met?

Answer 31

Employees can focus on their job and will do it to the best of their ability