Motivation in theory and practice 1.4.4 Flashcards
What is motivation?
The cause of people’s action (why people behave the way they do).
What is motivation theory?
The study of factors that influence the behaviour of people in the work place
What are the 4 motivation theorists?
- F.W.Taylor
- Elton Mayo
- Abraham Maslow
- Frederick Herzberg
What was Taylor’s theory?
People are motivated by money. So he promoted the idea of “a fair days pay for a fair days work”.
Taylors recommendations were:
- extreme division of labour
- payment by piecework
- tight management control
What was Mayo’s theory?
Money and good conditions motivate workers. Place some workers in a light-lit room and others in a dark room.
- Productivity rose in areas where lighting was improved.
- It questioned Taylors theory.
- Recognition, belonging and security are important for motivating.
What was Maslow’s theory?
Everyone has similar motivators, which are all to do with the sense of belonging. Maslows hierarchy of needs follows:
- Physiological
- Safety
- Love/belonging
- Esteem
- Self-actualization
What was Herzberg’s theory?
Motivators and hygiene are mixed to motivate.
Motivator examples:
- sense of achievement
- nature of work
- recognition
- responsibility
- promotion
Hygiene factors?
- working conditions
- supervision
- pay
- interpersonal relationships
- company policy
What are 3 factors to employee engagement?
- Intellectual engagement.
- Effective engagement.
- Social engagement.
What is employee engagement?
Employee is positive about his/her work, thinks hard about how to improve, engaged with fellow employees.
What are the financial incentives to improve employee performance?
- Piecework
- Commission
- Bonus
- Profit share
- Performance - related pay
What is piecework?
Work paid according to the number of units produced.
What is a commission?
A payment to someone who sells goods that is directly related to the amount sold.
What is a bonus?
Paid in addition to the basic wage or salary and connected to meeting a target(s).
What is profit sharing?
The distribution to employees of a percentage of the company’s profits.
What is performance related pay?
A financial reward to employees whose work has reached or exceeded a set standard. The reward is usually determined through the appraisal system.
What are non financial techniques to improve employee performance?
- Delegation
- Consultation
- Empowerment
- Team working
- Flexible working
- Job enrichment
- Job rotation
- Job enlargement
What is delegation?
The assignment of new or additional responsibilities to a subordinate for him/her to assume authority for.
What is consultation?
A conference between two or more people to consider a particular question or change which may effect them.
What is empowerment?
Giving employees the authority to correct a problem without first checking with management.
What is team working?
The combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.
What is flexible working?
Working arrangements that allow employees some leeway in the hours and time that they work.
What is job enrichment?
Gives employees greater responsibility by increasing the range and complexity of tasks they are called upon to complete and giving them the necessary authority.
What is job rotation?
The practice of moving employees between different tasks to promote experience and variety.
What is job enlargement?
Giving an employee more work of a similar nature. Also known as horizontal loading.