Theme 1 Topic 7 - Motivation in Theory & Practice

Question 1

Define Motivation

Answer 1

A willingness to apply effort towards a particular goal
OR
The factors that inspire an employee to complete a task at work

Question 2

What are four benefits to a business with a motivated workforce?

Answer 2

Low absenteeism, Low labour turnover, Improved labour productivity, Easier to recruit new employees

Question 3

What are the five layers of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Answer 3

Physiological, Safety, Social, Esteem, Self-actualisation

Question 4

What does Maslow’s theory state?

Answer 4

Only when a lower level has been met would employees want to have needs higher up the hierarchy to be satisfied at work

Question 5

What did Mayo discover during his experiments?

Answer 5

The Hawthorne Effect

Question 6

Define The Hawthorne Effect

Answer 6

Workers are affected by the degree of interest shown in them by their managers

Question 7

What three conclusions did Mayo come to?

Answer 7

Employees gain satisfaction from freedom and control over their environment, Group norms develop and are influenced by informal rather than formal group leaders, Communication influenced morale and output

Question 8

What did Taylor believe?

Answer 8

To get the best output from employees, a piece rate scheme should be put in place to reward those with the highest output, and close supervision of workers

Question 9

What two factors did Herzberg believe affected how people felt about their work?

Answer 9

Motivators and Hygiene factors

Question 10

Define Herzberg’s Motivators

Answer 10

Some factors directly motivate employees e.g. recognition for work, responsibility

Question 11

Define Hygiene Factors

Answer 11

Other factors (e.g. pay and working conditions) don’t motivate employees directly but do demotivate them if they are missing

Question 12

What are four examples of non-financial incentives?

Answer 12

Job enrichment, Job enlargement, Empowering employees, Team working

Question 13

Define Job Enrichment

Answer 13

Involves giving employees greater responsibility and more challenging tasks

Question 14

What are two advantages of job enrichment?

Answer 14

Allows employees to test and develop new skills, Makes work more engaging

Question 15

What are three disadvantages of job enrichment?

Answer 15

May be stressful or intimidating, Increases training costs, Causes short term disruption as employees are retrained

Question 16

Define Job Enlargement

Answer 16

Involves giving employees a more varied range of tasks but of a similar difficulty

Question 17

What are two advantages of job enlargement?

Answer 17

Reduces boredom, Increases employees flexibility in case roles need covering

Question 18

What are two disadvantages of job enlargement?

Answer 18

Increases training costs, Short term disruption as employees are trained

Question 19

Define Empowering Employees

Answer 19

Giving employees control over their work, with the authority to make decisions and decide how tasks are completed

Question 20

What are two advantages of empowering employees?

Answer 20

Motivates as employees feel more trusted, Creates an environment where workers wish to contribute and be involved

Question 21

What are three disadvantages of empowering employees?

Answer 21

High level of independence can make it harder to check actions, Employees may feel it is only to save money, Takes a long time to build trust

Question 22

Define Team Working

Answer 22

Designed to unite employees towards a common organisational goal

Question 23

What are three advantages of teamworking?

Answer 23

Lowers absenteeism and labour turnover, Able to find better solutions to problems, Employees feel like they belong

Question 24

What are three disadvantages of teamworking?

Answer 24

Arguments or disharmony in the group, Might not get work done if too busy socialising, Decision making will be slower

Question 25

What are five examples of financial incentives?

Answer 25

Piece rate, Commission, Fringe benefits, Profit sharing schemes, Quality related bonus schemes

Question 26

What is an advantage of a using piece rate?

Answer 26

May lead to an increase in output per worker

Question 27

What is a disadvantage of using a piece rate?

Answer 27

Can lead to workers focusing on quantity rather than quality

Question 28

What is an advantage of commission?

Answer 28

Likely to increase sales and therefore revenue

Question 29

What are two disadvantages of commission?

Answer 29

Employees may be tempted to use unethical means to get sales, May focus on getting a sale rather than getting the highest selling price

Question 30

What are two advantages of fringe benefits?

Answer 30

Often valued highly by employees, Usually cheaper to provide than wage increases

Question 31

What is a disadvantage of fringe benefits?

Answer 31

May involve long-term commitment on behalf of the firm, reducing flexibility

Question 32

What is an advantage of profit sharing schemes?

Answer 32

Individual employees see their efforts can make a difference

Question 33

What is a disadvantage of profit sharing schemes?

Answer 33

Some members of the team will not work as hard as others but get the same reward

Question 34

What is an advantage of quality related bonus schemes?

Answer 34

Employees are motivated to work the highest possible standard to gan an increase in pay

Question 35

What are two disadvantages of quality related bonus schemes?

Answer 35

Often difficult to judge quality objectively, It is subjective so people may feel hard done to