Motivation

Organizational Behaviour

Motivation

Overview
The study of motivation is complex. It is a significant study for managers because employees when motivated are stimulated to achieve organizational goals. Employees who are motivated remain focus in a systematic way. Without a knowledge of motivation managers are in danger of guiding the behaviour of subordinates and make mistakes towards the desired outcomes of the organization.

Two main kinds of motivation: Intrinsic and Extrinsic

Intrinsic Motivation: It is internal. It occurs when people are compelled to do something out of pleasure, importance, or desire. Extrinsic Motivation: It occurs when external factors compel the person to do something. It is generally materialistic in nature.

Motivation

What makes motivation a complex study is the fact that it takes different approaches to motivate an employee. In addressing what it takes to motivate an employee, we need to examine the following:
Meeting the basic needs. Designing jobs that motivate employees. Creating the belief that desired goals can be achieved. Treating people equitably.

Objective

Students should be able to:

1. Define motivation. 2. Understand the process of motivation. 3. Explain the content theories and process theories of motivation. 4. Grasp the implications for managers.

The Motivation Process

Unsatisfied need

Tension

Drivers

Search behaviour

Satisfied need

Reduction of the tension

An unsatisfied need creates tension that stimulates the drive within an individual to generate a search behaviour to fins particular goals, if attained, will satisfy the need and reduce the tension (Robbins and Decenzo, 2004 p.280).

A need is and internal state that makes certain outcomes attractive.

Definition of motivation
Motivation represents forces acting within a person the causes a person to behave in a specific, goal-directed manner (Slocum and Hellriegel, 2007 p.392). The arousal, direction, and persistence of behaviour (Daft 2005 p.588). The willingness to exert high levels of effort to reach organizational goals, conditioned by the efforts ability to satisfy some individual need (Robbins and Decenzo, 2004 p. 279).

Categories of motivation theories

A group of theories that places emphasis on needs that motivate people

Motivation

Content theories
Process theories
A category of theories that explain how employees select behaviours to meet their needs

Content Theories
Motivation Maslows hierarchy of needs Herzbergs Two-factor theory McClellands Acquire needs theory Alderfers ERG theory

Maslows Motivation Theory

Selfactualization

Achieving ones potential, self-fulfilment, becoming what one is capable of becoming.

The desire for a positive selfimage, to achieve attention, recognition, and appreciation from others. A need to be accepted by peers, friendship, being part of a group. A need for safe and secure fro physical and emotional environment, free from threat.

Esteem

Social

Safety

Physiological

Food, drink, shelter, sexual satisfaction, and other bodily requirements.

Maslow theory the explanation

Lower-end needs are the priority needs, which must be satisfied before higher-order need are activated. Needs are satisfied in sequence. When a need is satisfied, it declines in importance and the next need becomes dominant. To motivate an individual one must know where that person is in the hierarchy and focus on satisfying at or above that level.

Implications of Maslows theory in the workplace

Not everyone is motivated in the same way. Motivation and need satisfaction are anticipatory in nature. Managers must seek to guide and direct employee behaviour to meet the organizational needs and individual needs simultaneously.

Herzbergs Two-factor Theory

Hygiene Factors Working conditions Pay and security Company policies Supervisors Interpersonal relationships
Motivators Achievement Recognition Responsibility Work itself Personal growth

Satisfaction

No satisfaction

Motivation factors

Hygiene factors
No dissatisfaction dissatisfaction

Herzbergs theory explanation

Hygiene factors involve the presence or absence of job dissatisfiers. When the hygiene factors are present, the individual is not dissatisfied; however when they are absent the individual is dissatisfied. In any case hygiene factors to not motivate. Motivators are factors that influence satisfaction and consequently motivate the person from within as he or she achieve the higher-level needs of achievement, recognition, and personal growth.

Implication of Herzbergs theory

Providing the hygiene factors will eliminate employee dissatisfaction bur will not motivate workers to high levels of achievement. Recognition, responsibility, and the opportunity to achieve personal growth will promote satisfaction and employee performance. The benefit of this theory has implication for the effect of company systems and job design (how work is arranged and how much employees control their work) on employee satisfaction and performance.

Maslow and Herzberg compared

Process theories

Expectancy

theory Equity theory Goal setting theory

Equity Theory
A process theory that focuses on individuals perception of how fairly they are treated relative to others. A situation that exists when the ratio of one persons outcome to input equals that of another person. Input an individuals contribution or effort Output what an individual receives from his or her contribution or effort

Equity theory explained

According to the theory individuals assign a degree of importance to their input and outcomes. Individuals feel that they are treated fairly when they perceive that their outcomes to inputs are equal to that of others. Any deviation from this perception leads to a feeling of inequity and demotivation. Such inequity feeling results in various actions the individuals are likely to take.

Equity theory explained

Consequences of inequity:
1. Change in inputs a person may choose to increase or decrease his or her inputs to the organization 2. Change outcomes a person may change his or her outcomes to restore equity. An unpaid person may request a salary increase or better working conditions. 3. Distort perceptions a person may mentally distort the situation to achieve a balance. 4. Leave the job a person may tenders his or her resignation of request a transfer to another department.

Implication of the equity theory

Implication for the equity theory for managers is that employees do evaluate their perceived equity of their rewards compared to others. Smart managers should try to ensure that there is fairness in the distribution of rewards to keep employees motivated.

The Expectancy Theory

A process theory simply states that people are motivated to work when they believe that they can achieve things they want from their jobs. Such expectation depend on their ability to perform the task, given their effort and the attractiveness of the reward..

Expectancy theory
Expectancy Probability that effort will lead to desired performance

Valance The value of outcome

Individual effort
E P P O

Outcome

performance
Expectancy theory is base on a relationship between effort and performance. A great individual effort should lead to high performance, which should result in the desired out. If the outcomes that available from high effort and high performance and are not attractive, the individual motivation will be
Expectancy The probability that performance will produce the desired outcome

Application of Theories in Organizational Scenario

Recognize Individual Differences Match People to Jobs Motivation by Goal Setting Reward System for Behaviour Modification Reward based on Job status, Competency & Performance Check the System for Equity Motivation through Monetary Rewards Reward on Seniority MBO: Management by Objective Empowerment Job Design - Rotation, Job Enlargement and Job Enrichment