What is meant by morale? How is it related to productivity?

Explain the factors

contributing to morale.

Q.What is Behavioral Reinforcement ? Explain the Positive & Negative reinforcement.

Ans: Behavioral reinforcement is the process of increasing, decreasing or

eliminating the likelihood of happening of a particular behavior in future with the
help of reinforcers which are external and environmentally based.

It is based on law of effect i.e. individual behavior is a function of its

consequences which means that behaviors followed by positive consequences
tend to be repeated and vice-versa.

Behavioural reinforcement theory was given by B.F. Skinner in 19xx and it

ignores that inner state of mind of the individual and concentrates solely on
what happens when he or she takes some action.

Positive Reinforcement: It refers to the process of increasing the incidence of a

particular desired behavior by providing positive response (reinforcer or
stimulus) when an individual shows the required behavior.

Positive response may be in the form of reward, pay hike, recognition etc.

Negative Reinforcement: It refers to the process of increasing the incidence of a

particular desired behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.

it is the action of removing the undesirable outcome or stimulus that serves as

the reward for performing the behavior.

For example, a teacher can eliminate that night's homework if kids study hard
and accomplish a lot in class. If this happens multiple times, the kids will
consistently work harder and be more productive while in the classroom.

For instance, at a manufacturing company, employees must attend work five

days a week, eight hours a day. However, to encourage greater productivity, a
supervisor might reduce work hours for the final week of the month. If
employees meet a production goal, they won't have to spend as much time at
work
Q2. Explain How Maslow classified the needs of an individual, also state its merits and
limitations? -15 marks

Ans.

Abhrahm Maslow is considered to be the father of “Humanistic Psychology.” He proposed

“Hierarchy of needs theory” in the early 1940s. As per this theory, human needs are classified in
below mentioned 5 levels, which are further subdivided into lower and higher order needs:

1. Physiological needs: These are the most basic needs which are needed for human
survival such as hunger, thirst, etc. These must be satisfied
2. Safety needs: Once physiological needs are satisfied, then human beings want to be safe
and free from any kind of physical harms such as attack, fight, etc.

Both Physiological and Safety needs are considered to be “Lower order needs” and are satisfied
externally.

3. Social needs: After satisfying lower order needs, human beings want be socially
acceptable by the society being a social animal. Here human beings look for respect and
acceptance by the society.
4. Esteem needs: Human beings want self-esteem not only from society but also from
themselves. We want to be looked into a positive way both by society and ourselves.
5. Self-actualization needs: Once, above mentioned needs are satisfied, then human beings
want to maximize their own potential. At this stage, human beings want to become
what he or she is capable of becoming.

As per this theory, Social, Esteem and Self-actualization needs are considered to be “Higher
order needs” and are satisfied internally by an individual.

Human beings tend to satisfy needs in order of hierarchy or by progressing upwards starting
from physiological needs to satisfy self-actualization needs. Similarly, once higher order needs
are unsatisfied, then human beings tend to resort to a lower level of hierarchy and try to satisfy
them first.

Merits:

1. This theory is very simple, practical and easy to understand.

 2. With the help of clearly defined hierarchy of needs, Managers may try to understand
what level of needs is operating in a particular employee. Therefore, by satisfying that
particular need, Managers may motivate that employee.

Limitations:

1. This theory assumed that at any point of time, only one level of needs is deficient in an
individual. However, that is not the case always; any individual may try to satisfy more
than one level of needs at the same time. For example, by satisfying social and esteem
needs at the same time.
2. Rigid Hierarchy- As per this theory, an individual cannot skip any level of needs.
However, we may try to satisfy higher needs first even lower order needs are
unsatisfied.
For example, a starving artist may try to satisfy self-actualization needs directly.
3. This theory is based on assumptions and lacks research evidence in its support.