Motivation Theorists Flashcards
What are content theories?
These deal with what motivates employees. They aim to identify a persons individual needs and then use motivations to fulfil those needs.
What are process theories?
These deal with the process of motivation and how motivation occurs
Who are the 9 theorists we learn about?
Frederick Taylor Elton Mayo David McClelland Frederick Herzberg Abraham Maslow Victor Vroom Peter Drucker Edwin Locke Tom Peters
Who created the scientific theory and what is it?
Frederick Taylor
The theory that money is the key motivator (pay by piece rate) and that motivational factors can be replicated in most situations.
What was the importance of Elton Mayo’s theory?
First theorist to take psychological factors into motivation
What were Mayo’s conclusions from his work?
The workplace is a social system
A sense of recognition is important
Communication impact productivity
Employees respond to changes in work environments
Who are the theorists most commonly associated with content theory?
McClelland
Herzberg
Maslow
What is McClelland’s theory also known as?
The three needs theory
What are the three needs of McClelland’s theory?
Achievement
Affiliation
Power
What is Herzberg’s theory also knows as?
The two-factor theory
What are the factors to Herzberg’s theory?
The hygiene factors
The motivating factors
What does Herzberg suggest about hygiene factors?
Good hygiene does not increase motivation but poor hygiene results in a decrease in motivation
What does Herzberg say about motivating factors?
Jobs need to be designed with responsibility, recognition, meaningful work, and the opportunity for promotion in mind in combination with hygiene factors to produce a motivated workforce
What is Maslow’s theory also known as?
The hierarchy of needs
What are the five levels of the hierarchy of needs? (From peak to base)
Self-actualisation (fulfilling your potential)
Esteem
Social
Safety
Physiological (basic needs e.g. Food, shelter, water)
How are the levels of the hierarchy of needs related?
One level cannot be reached until all layers below it have been satisfied
What is Victor Vroom’s theory also known as?
Expectancy theory
How does Vroom suggest valence and expectancy are linked?
Force (motivation) = valence x expectancy x instrumentality
All three factors can have a value between 0 and 1
1 being high, 0 being low
What is valence?
This refers to the value that an employee puts on the reward that is on offer
What is expectancy in relation to Vroom’s expectancy theory?
Whether the employee thinks that they are actually going to be able to complete the task/achieve a target
What does Peter Drucker say are the most important factors if managers want a motivated workforce?
Decentralised and delayered structure
Taking interest in their employees valuing their contribution
Offer ongoing training
Try to create a workplace community where social needs can be met
Keeping a sense of perspective when it comes to personal reward
In Edwin Locke’s goal setting theory, what are the factors a manager must take into account when setting goals?
Clarity Challenge Feedback Commitment Task complexity
What did Tom Peters say executives were obsessed with?
Numbers
Bureaucracy
Control
What did Tom Peters say mattered to a business’ success?
People
Customers
Action
