Senior leaders must understand how to motivate employees in a variety of ways.

Research major
motivational theories, and pick 3 theories to discuss.

1) Introduction

One of the most important factors to achieving success with your business is the ability to
motivate your employees (Joseph, n.d.).
Your business can have the best business plan available to mankind, but if the employees, which
are involved in the processes aren’t motivated, nothing will happen.
Being an involved manager is key in order to identify what your company’s culture is made of.
Within every business people of different beliefs and backgrounds are mixed into the same work
space.
This diversity is key when a motivational theory is used, and how it would actually work with
every employee.
Every strategy won’t work the same with every employee, since everyone’s background, and
beliefs is different.
Motivational theories are only as good as the managers which implement them.

a) Thesis

i) Some of the most relevant theories are; Maslow‘s Hierarchy Theory, Herzberg's

Motivation-Hygiene Theory, and Carrot and Stick Theory.

2) Theory 1

Abraham Maslow developed the Hierarchy of Needs model in 1940-50s USA, and the Hierarchy
of Needs theory remains valid today for understanding human motivation, management training,
and personal development (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
a) Description

i) History-Foundation-Model-Application

(1) Maslow’s theory is based on human beings hierarchy of needs, which range from

lower to higher.
 (2) His theory stated that as lower needs started to get fulfilled, higher needs started

to emerge.

(3) Maslow indicated that people don’t feel higher needs, until the current level ones

are satisfied.

(4) According to Maslow, once one need is satisfied, an individual seeks to achieve

the next level (Joseph, n.d.).

(5) He classified needs into five groups, calling this the hierarchy of needs.

(6) His model consists of a five-level model, with the first three levels identifying the

lower order needs that consist of biological and psychological needs, followed by

safety needs, then social needs (Michael, 2014)

(7) Sometimes, we can better understand his theory by looking at it visually, figure 1

shows Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in a visual format.

Figure 1 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(8) Application of this theory at an organizational level can be accomplished in

different manners.
 (9) The first level is satisfied within a work environment by providing employee with

reasonable work hours, refreshment breaks and physical comfort.

(10) Then comes safety, which is provided by making an employee feel secure about

his “job security, base compensation and fringe benefits, having safe working

conditions and freedom from war, pollution, and violence” (Abraham Maslow

Hierarchy of Needs, n.d.).

(11) Feeling loved and having a good group of co-workers will satisfy his third level

needs.

(12) These first three levels within Maslow’s theory are considered the lower ones.

(13) The start of the higher order needs, starts with the need for self-esteem, exhibited

in the workplace as a desire for a job title, responsibility, promotion, praise and

recognition from the boss, approval of family, friends, and community (Abraham

Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, n.d.).

(14) The last level is self-actualization, which is demonstrated in a job environment by

a person’s need for a greater challenge and decision-making autonomy.

(15) Even though Maslow’s theory has been recognized as a good one, it still has some

weaknesses.

(16) Critics suggest that his theory of hierarchy makes sense, but little evidence

suggest that people stick by it.

(17) Some cultures value social needs before others, and some people might not follow

the order of needs suggested.

3) Theory 2
The next theory behind employee motivation is Frederick’s Herzberg satisfiers and dissatisfiers’

theory, better known as the Motivation-Hygiene Theory.

a) Description

i) History-Foundation-Model-Application

(1) Frederick Herzberg (1923-2000), clinical psychologist and pioneer of 'job

enrichment', is regarded as one of the great original thinkers in management and

motivational theory ("Frederick Herzberg Motivational theory").

(2) His work was done upon researching what factors within an organization caused

employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

(3) Satisfiers can be described as motivators, and dissatisfiers’ has hygiene factors.

(4) Some examples of satisfiers as per Herzberg are; achievement, recognition, work

itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth.

(5) Subsequently examples of hygiene factors are; company policies, supervision,

relationship with boss, work conditions, salary, and relationship with peers.

(6) By looking at figure 2 we are able to see how these factors are looked at visually.
Figure 2 Herzberg's Motivators and Hygiene Factor's

(7) Application of this theory within an organization is simple but at the same time

needs a good manager.

(8) According to Herzberg a job should challenge an employee enough to where we

use the employee’s full ability.

(9) At the same time, employees which show superior abilities, should be given extra

responsibilities.

(10) His thinking was that if an employee can’t be giving additional

responsibilities to fully use his abilities he should be replaced with a lower ability

employee for the task in question.

(11) When an employee’s abilities aren’t fully utilized a chance for a

motivation problem exists.

(12) Critics of this theory explain that it’s too simplistic, and some motivators

might not correspond to everyone.

 ii) Also they express that some factors are within your control but others aren’t.

4) Theory 3

One of the oldest and most interesting theory is quite simple as the name states, Carrot and Stick.

a) Description

i) History-Foundation-Model-Application

(1) This traditional motivational theory, attributed to philosopher Jeremy Bentham,

dates back to around 1800 during the Industrial Revolution (Joseph, n.d.).

(2) It breaks down motivation within employees into two factors, incentives and fear.

(3) Some employees are motivated by opportunities for growth while other are

motivate due to the fear of losing their job, being reprimanded or simply not being

able to perform.

(4) One of the most common motivators used behind this theory by bosses is money.

(5) But money isn’t always as important to some employees as it is to others.

(6) Frederick Herzberg’s study in 1959, showed that money wasn’t the biggest

motivator, but instead it was that a job demanded full use of their skills (The

Carrot-Stick Theory).

5) 1 Theory-Implement, and develop specific methods for implementation explaining your

rationale for the selection of this theory and your implementation design

If I were to choose a theory to implement within an organization it would be Herzberg

Motivational theory due to his amplitude of factors.

This theory examines an organizations climate by assessing all the factors which could help

motivation within employees.

It also gives an organization the ability to maximize their employee work force, by identifying

employees which skill sets aren’t fully used.

It also provides a manager a great tool to identify areas that need attention within an

organization.

The simplistic nature behind this theory is what makes it a great tool to use within an

organization.

6) Conclusion

a) Re-State Thesis

Motivation is key for an organizations success, and the three theories present all have good points.

What motivates one employee doesn’t necessarily motivate another but a good manager will learn to

notice the difference and adjust

Joseph, C. (n.d.). Three Main Theories of Motivation. Retrieved July 17, 2015, from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/three-main-theories-motivation-1888.html

Maslow's hierarchy of needs. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2015, from

http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm

Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from
https://adapt.careered.com/RealiseIT/Main/LearnerSkin.aspx/1/16/eMyLearning_-1_7160060_-1_-6/

Frederick Herzberg Motivational theory. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2015, from
http://www.businessballs.com/herzberg.htm
The Carrot-Stick Theory. (2009, December 11). Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5756445_carrot-stick-theory.html