Preview

Two-Factor Theory of Motivation

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2127 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Two-Factor Theory of Motivation
Frederick Herzberg – Two-Factor Theory of Motivation:

1. Introduction:
The two-factor theory (also known as Herzberg 's motivation-hygiene theory and dual-factor theory) states that there are certain factors in the workplace that cause job satisfaction, while a separate set of factors cause dissatisfaction. It was developed by psychologist Frederick Herzberg, who theorized that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction act independently of each other. According to Herzberg, intrinsic motivators such as challenging work, recognition, and responsibility produce employee satisfaction, while extrinsic hygiene factors, including status, job security, salary, and fringe benefits – if absent – produce dissatisfaction.
Herzberg 's theory appears to parallel Maslow 's needs hierarchy. Individuals look for the gratification of higher-level psychological needs having to do with achievement, recognition, responsibility, advancement, and the nature of the work itself. However, Herzberg added a new dimension to this theory, including factors that cause dissatisfaction as well, such as company policies, supervision, technical problems, salary, interpersonal relations on the job, and working conditions. This two-factor model of motivation is based on the notion that the presence of one set of job characteristics or incentives leads to worker satisfaction, while another and separate set of job characteristics lead to dissatisfaction. Thus, satisfaction and dissatisfaction are not on a continuum with one increasing as the other diminishes, but are independent phenomena.
2. Two-factor theory fundamentals:
2.1 Research by Herzberg:
Attitudes and their connection with industrial mental health are related to Abraham Maslow 's theory of motivation. His findings have had a considerable theoretical, as well as a practical, influence on attitudes toward administration. According to Herzberg, individuals are not content with the satisfaction of lower-order needs at work; for



Bibliography: a) Wikipedia b) Article – “Herzberg 's Motivators and Hygiene Factors” http://www.mindtools.com c) Article – “Two Factor Theory: Herzberg” http://www.boundless.com d) Article – “Motivation Theory – Herzberg” http://www.tutor2u.net

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    According to Herzberg two factor theory there are “two issues that play an important role in the workplace experience: hygiene factors and motivational factors”( Fischer and Baack, 2013 ). Hygiene factors contains wages, hours, working conditions and relationships with supervisors. Motivational factors consist of achievements, recognition, actual work or job, responsibility, and the chance for advancement or growth, and relationships with peers. Herzberg states that a person is either satisfied and driven or unfulfilled and unmotivated.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Herzberg found that the factors causing job satisfaction (and presumably motivation) were different from those causing job dissatisfaction. He developed the motivation-hygiene theory to explain these results. He called the satisfiers motivators and the dissatisfiers hygiene factors, using the term "hygiene" in the sense that they are considered maintenance factors that are necessary to avoid dissatisfaction but that by themselves do not provide satisfaction. Herzberg described motivators as: growth, esteem, recognition, responsibility,…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    (b) For the Motivation-hygiene Theory, which is also called two-factor theory, Herzberg found that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction acted independently of each other. Besides, there are certain factors in…

    • 1071 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The motivational theories works on the development of a healthy relationship between managers and workers to create a conducive working environment as well as satisfying each of the individual’s need in the workplace and to motivate them (Rozalin, 2013). The motivational theories include the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and McGregor’s Theory X and Y.…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin I will look at a need theory of motivation, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory (1959), as the name suggests need theories concentrate on the need’s of the employee as the main source of motivation. Herzberg built upon Maslow’s hugely influential Hierarchy of Needs (1954). Conducting research on 203 American accountants and engineers he looked at what makes employees satisfied and dissatisfied at work. Contrary to Maslow’s theory Herzberg suggests that motivation is not measured on one linear scale from satisfied to dissatisfied, but rather the two are independent of each other and form separate scales. The first group which determines dissatisfaction (or de-motivation) are named Hygiene factors which include our basic needs such as our pay and safety. The addition or improvement of hygiene factors can only lead to contentment in employees and not motivation. The second group which determines satisfaction are named Motivators, these include our internal needs such as our need to achieve, to be recognised and given responsibility. A decline or lack of motivators will not de-motivate employees, but adding them can lead to increased motivation.…

    • 2028 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Motivation to Work, Herzberg explained that motivational elements of work are broken into (2) separate categories, those serving people’s animal needs (hygiene factors) and those meeting uniquely human needs (motivation factors). (Crainer, 2003) Herzberg described hygiene factors as preventative health hazards in the workplace and include supervision, salary, company polices, benefits, and job security. (Crainer, 2003) When the aforementioned hygiene factors deteriorate to a level below when a person considers acceptable, job dissatisfaction ensues. Herzberg believed that true motivation comes in the form of achievements/recognitions and not through rewards as Maslow had reported. In the end Herzberg believed that motivation comes from within and is not something that can be created within an organization. (Crainer, 2003)…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Gawel, J. E. (1997). Herzberg’s theory of motivation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Washington, DC: ERIC Clearinghouse on assessment and evaluation.…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Theories of Motivation

    • 2210 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Another theory of motivation to be analyzed in this paper is Frederick Herzberg's Theory of Motivators and Hygiene. Herzberg's work categorized motivation into two factors:…

    • 2210 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Motivation is a widely studied concept in the organizational management field. Wood et al. (1994) defined work motivation as the forces within an individual, which are reflected by the level, direction and persistence of effort put into his work to improve their work efficiency. The Hierarchy of Needs Theory proposed by Maslow (1943) states that every human being has five kinds of needs, which managers can use as motivators. In 1966, Frederik Herzberg put forward the Two-factor Theory, which divides the motivation into intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Hackman and Oldham proposed the Job Design Theory in 1980, which presumes that the work itself is the key motivation. According to Hofstede (2001), people form different cultural backgrounds have diverse work values. Thus managers should motivate their employees based on diverse values.…

    • 1703 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Section 7.1, para. 3). “Because people on the job have different needs, personality traits, values, and emotions, they will possess a different set of factors that drive his or hers motivation” (Youseef and Noon, 2012. Section 7.1, para 1). For example, some people feel that they are working there because that is the only job they can find due to lack of education. Theories of motivations deal with a person’s needs that can be physiological and psychological. One American Psychologists, Abraham Maslow, who developed Maslow Hierarchy needs- influenced most of a person’s motivation on the job. He came up with five levels of needs: 1. Food, water and shelter, 2. Physical and emotional security, 3. Belonging to someone or something- ability to be affiliated, 4. How one feels about their abilities on the job and 5. The ability to give their all on the job (Youseef and Noon, 2012). Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and Herzberg Two Factor Theory will allow you to understand the work attitudes such as satisfaction in the Correctional Facilities (Udechukwu, 2009). “While Maslow suggested that needs, which drive behaviors associated with work attitudes (e. g., satisfaction), can be assigned to various levels, Herzberg made the distinction that needs that influence work attitudes can be met intrinsically or extrinsically. Thus, applying each theory provides a…

    • 3057 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Frederick Herzberg

    • 3578 Words
    • 15 Pages

    The other half of Herzberg’s two factor theory is motivator factors, which are ways to achieve job satisfaction. Motivator factors are related to what people actually do in a day’s work. The presence or absence of these motivators changes an employee’s view of their job. Examples of these motivator factors are achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth. Job dissatisfaction can result from these when they are low. But to enrich these factors will result in higher job satisfaction unlike in the hygiene factors. Essentially in order to properly motivate employees improving salaries and working conditions does not work, an employer has to improve the quality of the job, the quality of the work and the quality of the goal.…

    • 3578 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Maslow & Herzberg

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    According to Herzberg, management should focus on rearranging work so that motivator factors can take effect. He suggested three ways in which this could be done: job enlargement, job rotation and job enrichment. Herzberg’s motivator factors are based on an individual's need for personal growth. When they exist, motivator factors actively create job satisfaction. If they are effective, then they can…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Herzberg theory suggest that , there are some job factors that result in satisfaction while there are other job factors that prevent dissatisfaction. The Motivators or motivator factors are rated on a scale from satisfaction to no -satisfaction and the hygiene factors are rated from no –dissatisfaction to dissatisfaction. The two-factor stresses…

    • 1471 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation is based on the assumption that we can ascribe an analogous set of needs to all individuals and is therefore catalogued as a content theory of motivation. The theory distinguishes two sets of needs; motivators and hygienes. Motivators increase the satisfaction and motivation of employees and include recognition, achievement, advancement, autonomy, and other intrinsic aspects of work. On the other hand, hygiene factors, such as supervision, salary, work environment, company policies, and relationship with colleagues, do not motivate but stop dissatisfaction. These factors are necessary for motivators to have effect. Herzberg's two-factor theory can help evaluate what other incentives work has apart from earning money.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Motivation in Small Business

    • 2353 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Cited: Abahe. Herzberg 's Motivation-Hygiene Theory (Two-Factor Theory). 2010. Web. December 14, 2011. Available at:…

    • 2353 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics