Motivation theories
Why motivation matters
- Motivation is the desire to work hard and do a good job.
- Motivated staff produce more and better work, take fewer days off, stay longer, and serve customers better.
- So motivation lowers costs and raises quality.
The big theories
| Thinker | Main idea |
|---|---|
| Taylor | money motivates → pay per unit (piece rate) |
| Mayo | attention, teamwork and belonging motivate |
| Maslow | a hierarchy of needs, met low → high |
| Herzberg | two factors — hygiene vs motivators |
- Maslow: physiological → safety → social → esteem → self-actualisation.
- Herzberg: hygiene factors (pay, conditions) stop unhappiness; only motivators (achievement, recognition) truly motivate.
Practice
Taylor's scientific management says workers are mainly motivated by:
Taylor argued money is the main motivator, so pay per unit made (piece rate).
Practice
Order Maslow's needs from lowest to highest.
Maslow: physiological → safety → social → esteem → self-actualisation.
Practice
In Herzberg's theory, hygiene factors (like pay and conditions):
Hygiene factors prevent dissatisfaction; only motivators (achievement, recognition) give lasting motivation.
You've got it
Key idea
- motivation raises output/quality and lowers costs
- Taylor = money; Mayo = teamwork/attention; Maslow = hierarchy of needs; Herzberg = hygiene vs motivators
- Herzberg: hygiene stops unhappiness, only motivators give real motivation