Motivation in the Work Place

Paper Summary:

This paper examines what motivates employees and looks at how companies can satisfy an employee's needs. The paper explains that increasing motivation in the workplace will not always create more productivity. The paper looks at how poor equipment, poor materials, a negative work environment, politics and many other factors can have significant impact on production. The paper also discusses Abraham Maslow's research on human behavior and motivation and how this relates to motivation in the workplace. The paper also shows that there are specific things that a manager can do to create positive employee motivation, for example provide feedback, listen actively, hire superior people, provide recognition, and build empowered teams.

From the Paper:

"After the publication of the Hawthorne Studies, the study of understanding what motivated employees was the focus for many researchers. One of those researchers was Abraham Maslow. He did his investigation of human behavior between 1939 and 1943. Maslow believed that motivation was based on five specific human needs, physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. These needs are known as Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory. When the physiological need, having food or water is met, the need for being safe from harm is next. After the safety need is fulfilled the need for love is the focus. Self confidence, strength and the need for recognition from others are factors of the esteem need which is the next rung on the ladder, leading to the final need of self-actualization or becoming the best one can be. As we move up the ladder of needs they become harder and harder to achieve. The company or the manager is responsible for satisfying the higher needs."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lin Grensing (1991) "Motivating Todays Work Force: When the Carrot Can't Always be Cash." Canada: International Self Counsel Press
• Cliff F Grimes (2006) "Employee Motivation, The Organizational Environment and Productivity" Retrieved March 17, 2007 from Accel-Team Web Site: www.accel-team.com/motivation/intro.com
• Susan M. Heathfield (2007) "About Human Resources: You Can Make Their Day: Ten Tips for the Leader About Employee Motivation" Retrieved March 29, 2007 from About: Human Resources Web Site: http:/humanresources.about.com/od/motivationsuccess3/a/lead_motivation_2.htm
• Angelino Kinicki , & Robert Kreitner (2007) "Organizational Behavior Seventh Edition" New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
• James R. Lindner (1998). "Understanding Employee Motivation" Journal of Extension 36/3 1-8

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