Motivation Paper

Motivation Paper Five basic motivation theories have been developed over the years and used in corporations nation-wide to develop and maintain healthy and strong work environments. Motivation is described as "the individual forces that account for the direction, level, and persistence of a person's effort expended at work" (Schermerhorn, J.R., Hunt, J.G., & Osborn, R.N., 2005). In the hopes to achieve the best work possible from employees, JAMS Toy Store uses different motivation theories with the three main groups of employees; salespeople, production workers, and administrative staff. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the ERG Theory, the Two-Factor Theory, Equity Theory, and the Expectancy Theory are the five basic motivational theories
Physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs must be met in order to attain an unselfish attitude or self-actualization. Physiological needs include air, water, and sleep; safety needs are more of a psychological nature and have to do with a desire to feel safe and secure within the home environment; love and a sense of needing to belong needs are fulfilled by being part of a group, whether in the community or at work; esteem needs are met when one is able to excel at a task or receives praise from others. Finally, "the need for self-actualization is the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming"
Existence needs reflect all forms of material and psychological desires. Money, for example, would fill the existence need since food and shelter require money. Relatedness needs "center on or is built upon the desire to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships" (nwlink.com, 2005). Coworkers would take up this need since relationships are formed at the workplace. The growth need would push an individual to make productive effects on himself or herself by development. Within the ERG Theory, "an already satisfied lower-level need can become activated when a higher-level need cannot be satisfied" (Schermerhorn, et al., 2005). This means that a not so important need could be the goal when a more important need cannot be