Motivation

I . Motivation and Rewards

Introduction

The purpose of this is to evaluate some aspects of an employee 's motivation on a particular job . The evaluation includes assessment of the employee 's personal needs based need theories and an assessment of the job . The also cites recommendations to further motivate the employee to perform well . The case selected is James , a former co-employee . Assigned as a bookkeeper , he was one of the most diligent among my co-employees . He reported to work early and almost never absent . He did all his assigned tasks

and never complained . He worked hard but he to do things on his own . He did not mingle with the other employees . Even if he attended company social gatherings , he did not participate in activities . Other employees thought he was a snob . Despite James ' efforts and hard work , he did not accomplish much and did not get promoted to a higher position because of poor relations with the other staff

Need Analysis

A . Need Theories

James ' motivation in the job can be assessed in Abraham Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs theory that categorizes a person 's needs into a hierarchy : physiological , safety , belongingness , self-esteem and self-actualization (McShane Von Glinow 2008 ,

. 136 ) According to Maslow , we are motivated simultaneously by several needs , but the strongest source is the lowest unsatisfied need at a time . As a person satisfies the lower level need , the next higher need in the hierarchy becomes the primary motivator (McShane Von Glinow 2008 ,

. 136 What drove James to work hard was his need for job security that was why he tried to perform despite his poor relations with the other employees Job security is categorized under safety needs . The higher levels belongingness , self-esteem and self-actualization were not his priority at that point

David McClelland 's learned needs theory on the other hand strengthens Maslow 's theory . Drives and innate needs are reinforced by learning . He developed the concept of three learned needs which are the need for achievement (nAch , need for affiliation (nAff ) and need for power (nPow (McShane Von Glinow 2008 ,

.141 ) James exhibited the need for achievement , as McClelland describes , a person who wants to accomplish challenging goals , prefers to work alone and chooses tasks with some degree of risks (McShane Von Glinow 2008 ,

. 141 ) James motivation at work was not because of power or acceptance by others or to fulfill his potentials , but to have a secure job . This links Maslow 's safety needs to McClelland 's need for achievement (nAch . The underlying factor for James to try to achieve something in his job was his need for security and safety . He believed that by working hard , being prompt diligent and laining , he would be assured to retain his job and position

B . Job Design

There is no question that James was motivated to work , but his motivation was limited to his tasks and his problem on relating with his co-employees created an undesirable work environment...