Motivation-Maslows Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg Two Factor
I intend to explore Maslow 's hierarchy of needs and Herzberg two factory theories and indentify the key differences that exist between them, and explain how they can be applied by managers to motivate staff. Both are examples of content theories, a content theory is one where “we can attribute a similar set of needs to all individuals” ( Fincham and Rhodes, 2005, pg 193)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is essentially based on a pyramid depicting the different types of needs that one has. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the physiological needs, these are the subsistence needs that one needs to survive such as food, warmth clothing and shelter. The next stage up from there is the security needs, this is concerned with the need that humans have of feeling safe and away from danger. Progressing from there is the social needs, this focuses on the needs of “giving and receiving affliativeness, belonging and love” (Fincham and Rhodes, 2005, pg 195). Above that you have the self-esteem needs which are meeting the needs that one has for “achievement, independence and freedom”( Fincham and Rhodes, 2005, pg 195). Finally at the top are self-actualisation needs, which relates to the need of one being able to fulfil his or her full potential. If all prior needs before this stage are satisfied this can prove to be an influential source of our motivation as made evident by “Maslow contends that if we have met the other four basic needs, the need for self-actualization is 'potent ' enough to serve as our primary motivator for all behavior”. ( Oleson, 2004). The theory therefore suggests that we are first motivated by our basic needs, once this is achieved, our behaviour is focused on satisfying our safety needs, once this is achieved we look to fulfil our esteem needs, and so on and so forth. Showing that once one level is achieved, it will have little influence in motivating us, but rather it would be the above stage in the pyramid. Therefore indicating it would not be
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is essentially based on a pyramid depicting the different types of needs that one has. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the physiological needs, these are the subsistence needs that one needs to survive such as food, warmth clothing and shelter. The next stage up from there is the security needs, this is concerned with the need that humans have of feeling safe and away from danger. Progressing from there is the social needs, this focuses on the needs of “giving and receiving affliativeness, belonging and love” (Fincham and Rhodes, 2005, pg 195). Above that you have the self-esteem needs which are meeting the needs that one has for “achievement, independence and freedom”( Fincham and Rhodes, 2005, pg 195). Finally at the top are self-actualisation needs, which relates to the need of one being able to fulfil his or her full potential. If all prior needs before this stage are satisfied this can prove to be an influential source of our motivation as made evident by “Maslow contends that if we have met the other four basic needs, the need for self-actualization is 'potent ' enough to serve as our primary motivator for all behavior”. ( Oleson, 2004). The theory therefore suggests that we are first motivated by our basic needs, once this is achieved, our behaviour is focused on satisfying our safety needs, once this is achieved we look to fulfil our esteem needs, and so on and so forth. Showing that once one level is achieved, it will have little influence in motivating us, but rather it would be the above stage in the pyramid. Therefore indicating it would not be
References: Anderson T.D, Gudmundson A, Lundberg C. (2009). ‘Herzberg 's Two-Factor Theory of work motivation tested empirically on seasonal workers in hospitality and tourism’ Tourism Management. Volume 30 Issue 6, pages 890-899. Fincham, R. and Rhodes, P. (2005). Principles of Organizational Behaviour. New York: Oxford University Press Oleson, M. (2004). ‘Exploring the relationship between money attitudes and Maslow 's hierarchy of needs’ International Journal Of consumer studies, Volume 28, pages 83-92.