1.4.4 Motivation in theory and practice Flashcards
(18 cards)
Why is employee motivation important for businesses
Increases productivity Reduces absenteeism & turnover Improves customer service
Encourages innovation
What is Taylor’s Scientific Management theory?
Workers are motivated by money (piece-rate pay).
“One best way” to do a job efficiently.
Criticized for being impersonal & ignoring non-financial needs
What did Mayo’s Human Relations Theory emphasize?
Social needs (e.g., teamwork, recognition) matter more than money.
Hawthorne Effect: Productivity improves when workers feel valued
Explain Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Physiological (wages)
Safety (job security)
Social (teamwork)
Esteem (promotions)
Self-actualization (challenging work)
→ Must fulfill lower levels first.
What is Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory?
Hygiene factors (prevent dissatisfaction): Pay, conditions.
Motivators (boost satisfaction): Achievement, recognition
What is piecework pay?
Pay per unit produced (e.g., factory workers).
Motivates high output
Quality may suffer
How does commission motivate?
% of sales value (e.g., real estate agents).
High effort
Stressful, unstable income.
What are bonuses/profit-sharing?
Extra pay for hitting targets or company profits.
Rewards loyalty
✖ Expensive for firms
What is performance-related pay (PRP)?
Salary increases based on appraisals.
✔ Rewards merit ✖ Subjective, may demotivate others.
How does delegation motivate?
Giving employees responsibility → trust/development.
Why does consultation help motivation?
Involving staff in decisions → feel valued.
What is empowerment?
Giving autonomy to make decisions (e.g., Ritz-Carlton staff).
How does job enrichment differ from job enlargement?
Enrichment: More challenging tasks (e.g., project leadership).
Enlargement: More tasks at same level (e.g., extra admin duties
What is job rotation?
Switching roles to reduce boredom (e.g., McDonald’s cross-training).
Why offer flexible working
Improves work-life balance → higher retention.
A call center has high turnover. Which motivation theory could help
Mayo – improve social conditions/teamwork
A software firm wants creativity. Which non-financial method works best
Empowerment (e.g., Google’s “20% time” for personal projects)
Why might profit-sharing fail to motivate low-paid workers
Maslow – they prioritize physiological needs (higher wages over profit cuts)
