Motivation in theory and practise 1.4.4 Flashcards
what is motivation
the will to work because of enjoyment and a desire to achieve certain goals
what are the 2 broad approaches for motivation
- financial methods (salary, bonus)
- non-financial methods (delegation, praise)
what are the 4 theories of motivation
- Taylor
- Maslow
- Herzberg
- Mayo
outline Taylor’s theory
the scientific theory focuses on breaking down complex tasks into simpler ones by identifying the most efficient workers, training the remaining workers to work this way, and paying workers based on productivity
advantages of Taylor’s theory
- increases efficiency
- errors are reduced because all workers used a standardised procedure
- easier decision making (authoritarian)
disadvantages of Taylor’s theory
- workers have reduced satisfaction and motivation
- limited flexibility because job rotation is not possible
outline Maslow’s theory
maslow suggested that in order to be satisfied and motivated, employees need to begin by fulfilling the lowest level of his hierarchy, then gradually move up the hierarchy to continue this motivation
what are the 5 levels of Maslow’s hierarchy (with examples)
self actualisation (fulfilling potential and achieving targets)
self esteem (achieving a high level of status)
social needs (feeling wanted through connections with peers)
safety needs (working in a safe environment and having job security)
physiological needs (food, water, rest)
advantages of maslow’s theory
- employees are more motivated and satisfied because their needs are met
- increased performance and efficiency within the workplace
disadvantages of maslow’s theory
- may not work for all business’
- can be expensive and time consuming to meet the needs of every employee
outline Herzberg’s theory
herzberg’s 2 factor theory suggests that employees are motivated by 2 factors:
- hygiene
- motivators
to be fulfilled and motivated, employees should have all hygiene needs met, alongside motivators to promote efficient working:
- job dissatisfaction is influenced by a lack of hygiene factors
- job satisfaction is influenced by the presence of motivators
what are motivator factors (give 3 examples)
factors which directly motivate employees to work harder:
- increased responsibility
- recognising good work
- having opportunities for promotion
what are hygiene factors (give 3 examples)
factors that can demotivate employees is they are not present:
- pay
- good working conditions
- job security
outline Mayo’s theory
mayo’s human relations theory believes that workers are motivated by having their social needs met at work by:
- working in teams
- Managers engaging with employees and having 2-way communication
how can business’ use mayo’s theory
- empower employees by including them in decision making
- take part in team-building activities
- provide feedbacks and recognition to employees
- create a positive, open workplace enviroment
advantages of Mayo’s theory
- improved job satisfaction (workers are empowered)
- increased productivity
- better communication so better decisions can be made
disadvantages of Mayo’s theory
- team building is time consuming and there is a potential for conflict
- there is a lack of control if workers make more decisions
- some managers may be resistant to change
what is employee engagement
the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their work and workplace
what are the 3 main elements to employee engagement
- intellectual engagement (thinking about the job and how to improve it)
- affective engagement (feeling positive about doing the job)
- social engagement (speaking about work-related issues with others at work)
what is the difference between wages and a salary
wages are measured by the hour and usually paid at the end of each week
a salary is set on an annual basis, which is paid at the end of each month
what are fringe benefits and give an example
items an employee receives in addition to their normal wages or salary, for example, a company car
what is overtime
when an employee works additional hours beyond their set rate, and these additional hours are paid at a higher rate (often 1.5 or 2 times more than normal)
what is bonus pay
pay that is given out when a target is met to motivate employees
what is profit sharing
when an employee receives a proportion of the business’ profits
advantages of profit sharing
- creates a direct link between pay and performance
- improves employee loyalty
- employees are less resistant to change if it will result in the business, and therefore them, gaining higher profits
what is performance related pay
when employees are only paid once targets are met
advantage of performance related pay
easy to monitor employee efficiency
disadvantages of performance-related pay
- reduces teamwork and could create unhealthy rivalry
- sometimes difficult to accurately measure performance
what is piece-rate pay
when employees are paid per item produced
advantages of piece-rate pay
- lower levels of manager supervision
- encourages high speed production
- workers are incentivised
disadvantages of piece-rate pay
- workers focus on quantity not quality
- workers are bored performing such repetitive jobs
what is commission
when employees achieve a % of profits for a set amount of sales achieved
what is a problem with commission
The sales may be influenced by external factors, not the quality of the product
what is job empowerment
delegating responsibilities to employees so they can make their own decisions and feel more important
what is promotion
promoting employees to a position with higher responsibility as a result of good work
what is job enrichment
giving employees more challenging and interesting tasks to keep them engaged and motivated
what is job enlargement
giving employees more tasks of a similar complexity level
what is job rotation
when employees move through a range of jobs and tasks to keep them motivated and interested
why is having better communication a non-financial incentive for motivation
employees feel as though they are being listened to
