U3 AOS2: Human resource management Flashcards
Human resource management (HRM)
The effective management of the formal relationship between the employer and employees
What is the role of HRM in a business?
Responsible for getting the best out of its employees
Motivation
The individual, internal process that directs, energises and sustains a person’s behaviour
What is a need?
A personal requirement
What are the 3 theories of motivation
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Locke and Latham’s goal setting theory
- Lawrence and Nohria’s four drive theory
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Maslow’s sequence of human needs in the order of their importance
Concept of Maslow’s
Most basic needs are at the bottom, needs at a lower level must be fulfilled before moving onto the next, and once a need is met, it no longer motivates.
Physiological needs
Air, food, water, health
- Satisfactory pay for survival
Safety needs
Safety, shelter, stability
- Safe working conditions
- Job security
Social needs
Love, belonging, inclusion
- Teamwork
- Involvement in decision-making
- Supportive management
Esteem needs
Self-esteem, power, control, recognition
- Responsibility
- Promotion
- Recognition
Self-actualisation needs
Development, creativity, growth
- Creative, interesting jobs
- Opportunities for advancement
How can Maslow’s be implemented?
Managers must identify where employees are on the hierarchy and meet their specific needs at that level.
Strengths of Maslow’s
- Management understand individual needs
- Raises awareness of variance between employees > cater to each employee
- Easy to understand, use and relate to
Weaknesses of Maslow’s
- Theory not supported by evidence
- Stages don’t apply to all
- Can struggle to identify individual’s stage
Locke and Latham’s goal setting theory
Concludes that employees are motivated by clear goals and feedback regarding achievement
- Specific/challenging goal = better performance
What are the 5 goal setting principles?
- Clarity
- Challenge
- Commitment
- Feedback
- Task complexity
Clarity
Simple, clear, specific. Ensure everyone understands expections.
Challenge
Highly valued task, motivates the employee.
Should extend the employee and be achieveable
Commitment
Greater input from employee = more likely to commit to goal
Feedback
Recognise employees progress/achievements, make adjustments to goals, ensure clear expectations.
Can be informal or formal
Task complexity
Tasks shouldn’t be overwhelming. Additional training my be required to assist employee.
Strengths of goal setting theory
- Motivate employees, leading to improved performance
- Highly research backed
- Higher performance standards + rate of productivity
- Collaboration = improved relationships
Weaknesses of goal setting theory
- Poor goals = poor performance + demotivation
- Goals may clash/not support bus objectives
- Tunnel vision on goal = neglect other aspects of job
- If goal is not met, can be detrimental to employee confidence
Lawrence and Nohria’s four drive theory
Motivational theory that suggests that employees strive to achieve four fundamental needs
What are the 4 drives?
- Acquire
- Bond
- Learn
- Defend
Drive to acquire
Driven to acquire material things
- Money
- Possessions
Driven to acquire abstract things
- Praise
- Pride
- Status
Drive to bond
Driven to relate to others
- Collaboration
- Recognised as individuals
- Personal friendships at work
Drive to learn
Driven to be challenged
- New and interesting experiences
- Bore of repetitive tasks > eager to increase skills and knowledge
Drive to defend
Latent drive (lying under the surface but ready to rise up) > two approaches
- Employees become unmotivated if they feel unsafe or threatened > driven to defend themselves rather than work
- Employees become motivated if it helps defend their job, eg. “gain certain amount of customers or else you’ll be fired”
Strengths of four drive theory
- Drives work independent > flexibility on strategies implemented
- Adaptable to different environments
Weaknesses of four drive theory
- Other drives may exist which can motivate
- Some applications involve comp between employees = lack of cooperation/info sharing
Similarities between Maslow’s and goal setting theory
- Achievement of goal in LL similar to meeting esteem and self-actualisation needs in M
- Recognition and feedback apparent in both > M via esteem needs, LL via setting goals and the provision of feedback
- Job satisfaction as key motivator
- Foci of one thing at a time
Differences between Maslow’s and goal setting theory
- M = ongoing, long-term, whereas LL = short-term, achievement of goal ends process
- LL = concentrates on a variety of different goals, whereas M = lead to processes that encourage all employees to progress through the hierarchy
- M = internal needs of employees, whereas L = business goals/needs
Similarities between goal setting theory and four drive theory
- Reward of achieving goal in LL = drive to acquire
- Managers must understand needs of employees > setting goals, implementing appropriate strategies to satisfy drives
- Focused on employees
- Cooperation between manager and employee > feedback of goals, understanding how drives affect each employee
Differences between goal setting theory and four drive theory
- LL = achieve business goals (external), LN = satisfy drives within person (internal)
- LL = one goal at a time, LN = satisfy all 4 drives simultaneously
Similarities between Maslow’s and four drive theory
- Achievement of employee satisfaction
- Drive to acquire = physiological needs
- Drive to bond = social needs
- Drive to learn = self actualisation
Differences between Maslow’s and four drive theory
- M = 5 levels, hierarchal structure, LN = 4 drives that are all considered equal significance
- M = sequential steps, LN = satisfy 4 drives simultaneously
What are the 5 motivational strategies?
- Performance related pay
- Career advancement
- Investment in training
- Support strategies
- Sanction strategies
Performance related pay
The monetary compensation provided to employees relative to how their performance is assessed according to set standards
How can performance related pay be provided?
- Pay increase
- Bonuses (one off payments)
- Commissions (amount paid for accomplishing a sale)
- Share plan
- Profit sharing
- Gainsharing (reward employees for making suggestions to improve productivity/reduce costs, savings are distributed to employees)
Impact of performance related pay on short-term motivation
Pay increases, bonuses, and commissions = immediate and tangible reward for effort/commitment to business.
If these rewards become an ongoing strat, they can provide longer term motivation
Impact of performance related pay on long-term motivation
Share plans, profit sharing, and gainsharing = takes a number of years to be achieved
Shares > generally trend upwards over long period
Profit isn’t guaranteed year-to-year > requires employee to take longer-term pov of business
Advantages of performance related pay
- Improve employee performance as they chase higher income
- Best performers are rewarded > linked to improved performance
- Attracts high quality employees
Disadvantages of performance related pay
- Develops competitive culture > undermines teamwork
- Can be exp
- Challenging to create equitable system
Career Advancement
The assignment of more responsibilities/authority to employees or the promotion of employees to positions that bring rewards, such as increased salary, fringe benefits and increased responsibilities.
Impact of career advancement on short-term motivation
Changing roles usually brings a pay rise + greater job security > satisfies low order need on Maslow’s
Impact of career advancement on long-term motivation
- Opportunity to be involved in decision making process (social per Maslow)
- Gain responsibility = self-esteem (self actualisation per Maslow)
- All 4 drives can be achieved through career adv > encourages employee to stay within organisation
Advantages of career advancement
- Attract and retain quality employees
- Motivates others as they see promoted colleagues
- Business has knowledge on employee capabilities
Disadvantages of career advancement
- Hard to provide opportunities to all
- Resentment of overlooked employees
- Loss of employees if opportunities are limited
Investment in training
The direction of finances, or resources such as time, into the teaching of skills to employees
A skilled workforce can improve productivity, and help achieve core business objectives
Impact of investment in training on short-term motivation
Gives employee opportunity to learn > provides access to multiple jobs/areas
Impact of investment in training on long-term motivation
- Sense of accomplishment (per Maslow’s esteem and self-actualisation)
- New skills and achievement (drive to acquire, bond (belong with higher level skills) and learn)
Advantages of investment in training
- Indicates that business values employee’s contribution, support, and future advancements
- Improves skills of employees > productivity
Disadvantages of investment in training
- Costs of training
- Waste of time/money (if employee leaves after gaining training)
Support strategies
The assistance or services (such as counselling and mentoring) provided by the business to help employees cope with difficulties that may impede their work performance.
Impact of support strategies on short-term motivation
- Support and encouragement motivates employee to do better
- Applies when employee has done a good job, or achieved goal/target (validation)
Impact of support strategies on long-term motivation
Encourages sense of loyalty and willingness to remain in a supportive work environment
Advantages of support strategies
- Support can be provided with little to no cost
- Counselling and mentoring help develop meaningful professional relationships
- +vely impacts employees attitudes, improving their confidence and motivation
Disadvantages of support strategies
- Hard to provide appropriate support for all employees
- Employee dependency on their mentor/counsellor
Sanction strategies
A form of penalty or discipline imposed on an employee for poor performance
Sanctions can include…
- Verbal warning
- Reassignment of duties
- Demotion
- Reduction in salary
- Termination of employment
Impact of sanction strategies on motivation
- Fear of sanctions can be motivating factor
- Generally influences lower order needs
- Can influence defence drive
- Likely to only impact short-term motivation, doesn’t encourage long-term commitment
Advantages of sanction strategies
- Defer -ve behaviours, reinforces +ve ones
- Creates sense of accountability
- Stop inappropriate behaviour
Disadvantages of sanction strategies
- Reduces sense of belong > culture of fear and mistrust
- Cause resentment > may result in conflict
- Create -ve environment over the long term