Paper Topic:

“Motivation and Control: The Police Supervisor’s Dilemma

p Motivation and Control : The Police Supervisor 's Dilemma

Motivation and Control : The Police Supervisor 's Dilemma 1 . A very delicate relationship exists between the need for administrative control and maintenance of police workers , and the worker 's need for motivation and self-esteem as applies to their jobs . A number of theoretical models have been developed over the span of several decades to attempt to establish a harmonious balance between the needs of the administration and the personal , individual needs of rank-and- officers . The search for balance between these two needs

includes the use of motivating principles such as employee evaluation and subsequent promotion or lack thereof , as well as demonstrating motivational achievement from the "top " down by use of managerial example

Other strategies include : achievement-power theory , equity theory which holds that workers are motivated by their perceptions of "fairness " in the workplace "expectancy theory " which holds that workers believe that "if a certain amount of effort is put forth , a calculated outcome will result " and "need theory " which holds that "Managerial behavior[ .] requires attention to the various levels or stages of development of workers and how to motivate them to meet higher-needs as they travel up the need hierarchy each of these models represents one of many theories of employee motivation and managerial strategies , all of which may be combined , along with other theories , to create an integrated model for motivation . The key factor which runs through most , if not all of the theoretical models is the idea that "In seeking a sense of congruence between the employee and the organization , management has the responsibility of providing mechanisms that enable employees to be highly motivated (Wadsworth /Thompson

2 . Captain Frebe 's strategy for creating more accountability for his officers is rooted in the "Theory X " paradigm which views management and employee relationships as essentially confrontational and which accepts underlying principles of human behavior which are negative . For example , Theory X holds that individuals are "lazy , lack ambition , are predominantly self-centered are resistant to change , and on the whole are not too bright (Wadsworth /Thompson . This style of managerial strategy has been widely discredited by subsequent theories , such as "Theory Y " and "Theory Z In for Captain Frebe to motivate officers without alienating them he must realize that employees -- in fact -- require that their needs also be met in attempts to create a more productive working environment

By drawing from some of the theoretical models of human behavior outside of "Theory X " Captain Frebe would gain insight into the humanity of his workers and in doing so , come to understand that integrated models of motivation strategy are far more effective than simple models based on punishment and managerial oversight . An integrated approach to management , such as that espoused in "Theory Y " contends that "there is a definite relationship between job satisfaction among employees and management style . This management approach has been supported by many in the police field , such as Roberg (1979 , who argue that Theory Y...

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