Motivation in theory

Below is information on four people (FW Taylor, Elton Mayo, Maslow and Herzberg) who all had theories to do with motivation.

FW Taylor

• Taylor believed that the only thing which motivated people was money.
• He observed different workers carrying out tasks which became known as his time and motion studies.
• He aimed to make the production process more efficient by using specialist equipment and breaking jobs down into very simple tasks.
• He devised a set procedure for workers which they had to stick to, to maximise efficiency.
• He designed piece rate (paid people per item made) to encourage people to produce more.

Elton Mayo

• Mayo studied an electrical company and looked at how changing physical factors improved people's performance.
• He found out that it wasn't the physical conditions being changed that made people work harder but instead the following:
• Working in a team with a leader,
• Better communication,
• When interest was shown in workers.

Maslow

• Maslow created a Hierarchy of needs which is normally drawn as a triangle. He believed it showed what people wanted from their job. He thought everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up to the top.

Self actualisation

= = = Esteem needs = = =

= = = = = Social needs = = = = =

= = = = = = Safety needs = = = = = =

= = = = = = = Physical needs = = = = = = =

• Self actualisation - Fulfilment - learning new skills, challenges etc.
• Esteem needs - recognition of achievements.
• Social needs - Friendship, contact - communication.
• Safety needs - Job security and safety.
• Physical needs - Ability to pay for food and shelter with pay.
• The main problem with Maslow's theory is that different people have different needs and not everyone will fit in the same pattern.

Herzberg

Herzberg used a survey to investigate what people liked and disliked about their jobs. He put the results into two categories: "Motivators" and "Hygiene factors". This became known as the two factor theorem and is shown below: