Frederick Herzberg - Theory of

Motivation
• He first published his theory in 1959 in a
book entitled ‘The Motivation to Work’ and
put forward a two factor content theory which
is often referred to as a two need system.
 Introduction to the Theory:

• Fredrick Herzberg and his associates

developed the MOTIVATION HYGIENE
THEORY, commonly known as the two factor
theory, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Herzberg and his associates conducted a
research based on the interview of 200
engineers and accountants who looked for 11
different firms in Pittsburgh area, U.S.A.
• The purpose of the research was to find out as to what variables are

perceived to be desirable goals to achieve and conversely, undesirable

conditions to avoid. During the course of the interviews, these men

were asked to describe a few previous job experiences in which they

felt “exceptionally good” or “exceptionally bad” about jobs. They

were also asked to rate the degree of which their feelings were

influenced-for better or worse- by each experience which they

described.
• Based upon the answers received from these 200 people, Herzberg

concluded that there are certain factors that tend to be consistently

related to job satisfaction and on the other hand, there are some factors,

which are consistently related to job dissatisfaction. The last of job

conditions, he referred to as MAINTENANCE OR HYGIENE factors

and the first job conditions as MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS. The

motivational factors are intrinsic in nature and the hygiene factors are

extrinsic in nature.
 Motivational Factors:

1. Hygiene Factors:

• Hygiene factors or the maintenance factors do not motivate

people, they simply prevent dissatisfaction and maintain

status quo. Such factors do not produce positive results but

prevent negative results. If these factors are not there it will

lead to job dissatisfaction. These are not motivators, as they

maintain a zero level of motivation or in other words, these

factors do not provide any satisfaction but eliminate

ACCORDING TO HERZBERG THERE
ARE TEN
SL.NO. MAINTENANCE
HYGIENE FACTOR OR
HYGIENE
1. FACTORS:
Company policies

2. Technical Supervision The word hygiene is taken from the

3. Inter-Personal relations with Supervision medical science, where it means
4. Inter-Personal relations with subordinate taking preventions to maintain your

5. Inter-Personal relations with peers health but not necessarily improve

it. Similarly, hygiene factors in this
6. salary
theory prevent damage to efficiency
7. Job security
but do not encourage growth.
8. Personal Life

9. Working Conditions

10. Status
 2. Motivational Factors:

• These factors are intrinsic in nature and are

related to the job. The motivational factors have
a positive effect on job satisfaction and often
result in an increase in total output. Thus, these
factors have a positive influence on morale,
satisfaction, efficiency and productivity.
Herzberg concluded that six factors motivate the employees:

SL.NO. Motivation factor

1. Achievement
2. Advancement
3. Possibility of Growth
4. Recognition
5. Work itself
6. Responsibility