Employee Motivation:

Theories & Strategies

Manerly Salvatore
April 19, 2010

Use r- D ef in ed Pla ce h o ld e r T ex t
 “Stress and lack of motivation in the
workplace costs U.S. corporations over
$300 billion annually”.
(The American Institute of Stress, 2010)
Perspectives on Motivation

Need-based
Process
Reinforcement
 Need-based perspective

Also known as content perspectives

Are theories that emphasize the needs that

motivate people

Needs are defined as physiological or

psychological deficiencies that arouse behavior

(Wilsons, 2006)
Major Needs Theories of
Motivation

Maslow's Need-Hierarchy Theory

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory
McClelland’s Acquired Needs Theory
Marslow’s Hierachy of Needs
Theory
 Using Hierarchy of Needs
Theory to Motivate Employee
Meet employees’ level 1 and level 2 needs, so that
employees will not be preoccupied with them

Give employees a chance to fulfill their higher-

level needs in ways that also advance the goals of
the organization.

Not all employees are driven by the same needs

The needs that motivate individuals can change

over time
Herzberg’s Two-Factor
Theory
Using Two-Factor Theory
to Motivate Employee

Eliminate dissatisfaction

Making sure that working condition, pay levels

and company policies are reasonable

Then concentrate on spurring motivation by

providing opportunities for achievement,
recognition, responsibility, and personal growth
McClelland’s Acquired
Needs Theory
Using Acquired Needs Theory
to Motivate Employee

Eliminate dissatisfaction

Making sure that working condition, pay levels

and company policies are reasonable

Then concentrate on spurring motivation by

providing opportunities for achievement,
recognition, responsibility, and personal growth
 A Comparison of needs theories:
Maslow, Herzberg, and McClelland
 Popular Incentive
Compensation Plans
Pay for performance

Bonuses

Profit sharing

Gain-sharing

Stock options

Pay for knowledge

 Strategies for Employee
Motivation
Positive
reinforcement/high Setting work related
expectations; goals;
Effective discipline and Restructuring jobs;
punishment;
Based rewards on job
Treating people fairly; performance/compensati
Satisfying employees on
needs;
(ACCEL Team Development, 2010, para. 9-10)
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Shipley, D., & Jobber, D. (1991). Salesforce motivation, compensation and evaluation by Industrial Distributors. Service Industries Journal, 11(2), 154. Retrieved from Hospitality
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Williams, A., Lankford, S., & DeGraaf, D. (1999). How Managers Perceive Factors That Impact Employee Motivation: An Application of Pathfinder Analysis. Journal of Park &
Recreation Administration, 17(2), 84-106. Retrieved from Hospitality & Tourism Complete database.

Williams, R. B. (2010, February 13). How to motivate employees: What managers need to know. Psychology Today. Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201002/how-motivate-employees-what-managers-need-know-0

Williams, K. (2006). Management: A Practical Introduction (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Wilson, R. (2010). The Reward is in the Eye of the Beholder. Executive Housekeeping Today, 32(3), 23. Retrieved from Hospitality & Tourism Complete database.
Web-Book Website. (2010). Motivating Employees. Retrieved April 14, 2010 from
http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/NC/B0/B66/057MB66.htmlWilliams, A., Lankford,
S., & DeGraaf, D. (1999). How Managers Perceive Factors That Impact Employee
Motivation: An Application of Pathfinder Analysis. Journal of Park & Recreation
Administration, 17(2), 84-106. Retrieved from Hospitality & Tourism Complete
database.Williams, R. B. (2010, February 13). How to motivate employees: What managers
need to know. Psychology Today. Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201002/how-motivate-employees-
what-managers-need-know-0Williams, K. (2006). Management: A Practical Introduction
(2nd Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.Wilson, R. (2010). The Reward is in the Eye
of the Beholder. Executive Housekeeping Today, 32(3), 23. Retrieved from Hospitality &
Tourism Complete database.