Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation is what keeps us going. It is the reason people succeed and the reason people fail.
Motivation is the drive someone has to complete a task. The ingredients of motivation are
combined with many factors which include simplicity, attitude, the people you hang around,
the way you think, knowing yourself, helping other people and so much more
Motivation is the spark everyone needs to make it throughout the day, to set and meet goals,
and more. Without motivation you will fail. When you have apathy toward something you
are not motivated because you couldn’t care either way. This is the worst attitude you can
have because it isn’t negative either. Someone who feels this way isn’t capable of achieving
anything because they don’t care if they do or not.
Definition:
'An urge to perform certain act(s) willingly and enthusiastically toward the attainment of
some common objectives.'
(b) Second, the person's urge or feeling must result into some sort of willing and enthusiastic
action.
With reference to the different types of motivation theories, we are going to see how
OMNICANE motivates his staffs.
The importance to motivate the staff is because as they will work more effectively and with
much efficiency, there will be high productivity in the business which comes from a
motivated workforce. Higher productivity will lead to higher profits. There will be low
absenteeism and low labour turnover. There will be suggestions for improvement and the
staffs are ready to accept responsibilities.
There are many theories of motivation and the theorists are Eldon Mayo, F.W Taylor,
Abraham Maslow, Herzberg and two factor theory and Mc Gregor. Eldon Mayo deals mainly
with the experiments of human relations theories. His work was initially based on the
assumptions that working conditions like lighting, heating and rest periods and so on, which
had a significant effect on workers productivity. When management consult the staffs and
take interest in their work, the motivation is improved. Mayo also concluded that working in
teams and developing a team spirit can improve collectively. When there is some control over
their own working, lines is given to workers, such as deciding when to take breaks, there is a
positive motivational effect.
F.W Taylor started his working life as a labourer in a factory in America in 1880. He was
promoted to become chief engineer and during this time he conducted experiments into how
labour productivity could be increased. He based his ideas on the assumption that all
individuals are motivated by personal gains. This means that if workers are paid more, the
staffs will work more effectively. According to F.W Taylor, workers are paid by time rate
and piece rate. It is the payment by the hour. If the staffs work longer than their normal hours,
they will be paid overtime. This is their regular amount per hour plus an extra amount. Piece
rate is where the staffs are paid depending on the quantity of goods made. i.e. the more they
make, the more they will be paid. Taylor saw employees rather like machines, meaning that
when they are paid more money, they were working hard and productivity would be high,
which would decrease the labour cost. Workers are paid on the basis of results.
Abraham Maslow was concerned with trying to identify and classify the main needs that
human have. Maslow in 1954 came up with the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A hierarchy
means that those things at the top are more important than those at the bottom. According to
him, a person starts to work to fulfil the basic needs. Staffs will want to earn more in order to
get food, shelter and recreation. However
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Representation
• Truth
• Justice
• Wisdom
• Meaning
Self-actualized persons have frequent occurrences of peak experiences, which are energized
moments of profound happiness and harmony. According to Maslow, only a small percentage
of the population reaches the level of self-actualization.
Esteem Needs
After a person feels that they "belong", the urge to attain a degree of importance emerges.
Esteem needs can be categorized as external motivators and internal motivators. Internally
motivating esteem needs are those such as self-esteem, accomplishment, and self respect.
External esteem needs are those such as reputation and recognition.
Social Needs
Once a person has met the lower level physiological and safety needs, higher level motivators
awaken. The first level of higher level needs is social needs. Social needs are those related to
interaction with others and may include:
• Friendship
• Belonging to a group
• Intimacy
Safety Needs
Once physiological needs are met, one's attention turns to safety and security in order to be
free from the threat of physical and emotional harm. Such needs might be fulfilled by:
• Medical insurance
• Job security
• Financial reserves
• Personal security
According to the Maslow hierarchy, if a person feels threatened, needs further up the pyramid
will not receive attention until that need has been resolved.
Physiological Needs
• Air
• Water
• Food
• Sleep
• Breathing
• Homeostasis
• Sexual intercourse
• Clothing
• Shelter
According to this theory, if these fundamental needs are not satisfied then one will surely be
motivated to satisfy them. Higher needs such as social needs and esteem are not recognized
until one satisfies the needs basic to existence.