Motivation

Basic Motivation Concepts

What is Motivation?
The processes that account for an individuals intensity,
direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining
organizational goal.
Three key elements;
1.
2.
3.

Intensity- how hard a person tries?

Direction- gives purpose to a person.
Persistence- how long a person can maintain effort?

Motivation refers to the process by which a persons

efforts are energized, directed, and sustained toward
attaining a goal.
This definition has three key elements:
energy,
direction, and
Persistence

Motivation works best when individual needs are

Theories of Motivation
Early Motivation Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Theory

McGregors Theory X and Theory Y
Herzbergs Two-Factor Theory
McClellands Three-Needs Theory

Contemporary Motivation Theories

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Alderfers ERG Theory

Goal-Setting Theory
Reinforcement Theory
Equity Theory
Vrooms Expectancy Theory

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Maslow was a psychologist who proposed that within every person is a

hierarchy of five needs:
1. Physiological needs:
A persons needs for food, drink, shelter, sex, and other physical
requirements.
2. Safety needs:
A persons needs for security and protection from physical and emotional
harm, as well as assurance that physical needs will continue to be met.
3. Social needs:
A persons needs for affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship.
4. Esteem needs:
A persons needs for internal esteem factors such as self-respect,
autonomy, and achievement and external esteem factors such as
status, recognition,
and attention.
5. Self-actualization needs:
A persons needs for growth, achieving ones potential, and selffulfillment; the drive to become what one is capable of becoming.

 Maslow argued that each level in the

needs hierarchy must be
substantially satisfied before the next
need becomes dominant
Maslow separated the five needs into
higher and lower levels.
Lower-order needs are predominantly
satisfied externally while higher-order
needs are satisfied internally.

 Hierarchy of needs
Lower-order (external): physiological, safety
Higher-order (internal): social, esteem, selfactualization

Exhibit 161 Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

2007 Prentice Hall,

Inc. All rights reserved.

167

McGregors Theory X and Theory Y

Theory X
The
assumption
Theory Y
that
employees
The
assumption
dislike work, are
that employees like
lazy,
dislike
work, are creative,
responsibility, and
seek
responsibility,
must be coerced to
and can exercise
perform.
self-direction.

Theory X
Theory X: managers have 4 assumptions

1. Employees inherently
dislike work, and
attempt to avoid it.
2. Employees must be
coerced, controlled, or
threatened
3. Employees avoid
responsibilities and seek
formal direction
4. Employees display little
ambition.

Theory Y
Theory Y: managers have 4
assumptions

1. Employees can view

work as natural as
rest or play
2. They exercise selfdirection and selcontrol
3. They seek
responsibility
4. They do work
innovatively.

Herzbergs Two-Factor Theory

The two-factor theory (or motivationhygiene theory) is based on two

factors;
Intrinsic factors (motivators)
Hygiene factors

It proposes that intrinsic factors are

related to job satisfaction and
motivation, while extrinsic factors are
associated with job dissatisfaction.

Herzbergs Motivation-Hygiene Theory

Exhibit 163 Contrasting Views of Satisfaction-Dissatisfaction

2007 Prentice Hall,

Inc. All rights reserved.

1612

McClellands Three-Needs Theory

1. The need for achievement (nAch)

which is the drive to succeed and excel

2. The need for power (nPow)

which is the need to make others
behave in a way that they would not
have behaved otherwise; and

3. The need for affiliation (nAff)

the desire for friendly and close
interpersonal relationships

 People with a high need for

achievement are striving for personal
achievement.
They have a desire to do something
better or more efficiently than its
been done before

 Contemporary Theories of Motivation

Alderfers ERG Theory

E- Existence employees are concerned with basic

material existence requirements

R- Relatedness
The desire for interpersonal
relationships.

G- Growth
Desire for personal development.

Analysis of the ERG theory

More than one need may be
operative at the same time.
There is no hierarchy to be followed
in fulfillment of needs.
When high-level need is frustrated
the employees may increase their
desire for fulfillment of lower level
needs.

 working toward a goal is a major

source of job motivation
Participatively set goals elicit
superior performance (MBO)
that people will do better if they get
feedback on how well theyre
progressing toward their goals.
because feedback helps identify
discrepancies

Css-2014
Q. No. 6. Discuss Herzbergs two factor theory of motivation
and examine its application in the context of Public
Administration in Pakistan.
Css-2012
Q. 4. Analyse McGregors Theory X and Theory Y. Do you
agree with the view that with every passing year, McGregors
message has become more relevant and more important?
Substantiate your answer.
Cs-2011
Q.8. Write short notes on any FOUR of the following: (a) Egovernment in Pakistan (b) Judicial activism (c) F. Taylors
Scientific Management Theory (d) Theory X and Theory Y
(e) New Public Management Concept

Q&A