# Motivation in theory

Source: https://projectalevel.co.uk/business_studies/people/motivation_in_theory

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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:

| Motivators | Hygiene factors |
| --- | --- |
| Achievement | Company policy |
| Recognition of achievement | Supervision |
| Meaningful and interesting work | Pay |
| Responsibility | Interpersonal relations |
| Advancement | Working conditions |