Employee motivation - ph3db

Employee motivation

The problem of employee motivation is critical in all kinds of organizations today and is responsible for the shoddy products we buy and the careless service we receive . It was thought that all that was necessary to produce high motivation in workers was to pay them more this idea may no longer be valid for a large portion of the work force (Adams , 1965 . Modern workers demand jobs that satisfy their inner needs for fulfillment , expression , and self-actualization . Traditional values involved loyalty to the company and a strong drive for money

, status promotion and security . The new breed of workers focuses on self-fulfillment and self-actualization and demands jobs that are challenging and that allow participation in decision-making (McClelland 1976 . They have little loyalty to the organization and less concern with money , status and security

Psychologists have proposed several theories of motivation . The need for achievement by McClelland posits the existence to be the best in whatever they undertake . Studies show that good executives are higher in Ach than poor ones . High in ability and take calculated risks and set moderate achievement goals . These individuals constantly need feedback on their progress (Halonen Santrock , 1996

These theories deal with content of motivation , with internal needs that arouse and guide behavior . Process theories of motivation focus on the psychological processes involved in making decisions and choices about work . This is illustrated in the goal-setting theory , which argues that employee motivation is defined by our intention to achieve a particular goal and equity theory , which deals with our perceived ratio or outcome to input and how equitably that ratio compares with those co-workers (Halonen Santrock , 1996

The workplace today considers any of the perspectives mentioned in this . However , what are more reflective at many organizations are their strategies in enhancing the life of the average worker . The understanding of the needs or drives that motivate people is therefore critical in the choice of what motivator variables ' that the management may employ to encourage their people to do or sustain an excellent job or an efficient performance

Reference

Adams , J . Stacey (1965 "Inequity in social exchange , in Berkowitz Leonard (Ed , Advances in Experimental Social Psychology , Vol . 2 Academic Press , New York , pp . 267-299

Halonen , JS and JW Santrock , 1996 . Psychology : Contexts of Behavior Dubuque , IA : Brown and Benchmark ,

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McClelland , D . C Burnham , D . H . 1976 . Power is the great motivator Harvard Business Review , 54 (2 , 100-110

Morris , Charles G , Maisto , Albert A , 1999 . Understanding Psychology .4th ed , Prentice Hall : New Jersey , pp .315-316...