1.4.4 - Motivation In Theory And Practice

Question 1

Definition of motivation.

Answer 1

Having motivated staff leads to greater productivity which means less wastage and higher profitability for a business.

Question 2

What is the importance of employees being motivated?

Answer 2

Motivation = higher productivity.
Productive employees are: more creative, accurate, analytical and b enter at handling problems and customer complaints, giving customer service and selling.
More motivated staff are more reliable and loyal therefore less likely to leave or take time off which improves labour turnover and absenteeism rates. Meaning reduced costs of recruiting and training new staff.

Question 3

Who are the 4 motivational theorists?

Answer 3

Taylor (scientific management)
Mayo (Human relation)
Maslow (hierarchy of needs)
Herzberg (two factor theory)

Question 4

What is the implications of Taylor’s theory?

Answer 4

The main form of motivation is high wages, higher wages=higher output
A manager job is to tell employees what to do.
A workers job is to do what there told and get paid accordingly.

Question 5

What are the implications of Mayo’s theory?

Answer 5

Working in teams was more important than money
Non-financial motivators were the most important
Boring and repetitive work can be demotivating.
Communication between ALL employees is the most important thing as it increases internal satisfaction and increased the productivity.

Question 6

What are the implications of maslows hierarchy of needs?

Answer 6

That we all have a pyramid of needs, and we start by meeting the needs at the bottom and work our way up the upper layers cannot be met without the bottom layers.
Top
Self-actualisation
Esteem needs
Social needs
Safety needs
Physiological needs
Bottom

Question 7

What are the implications of Herzberg’s two factor theory?

Answer 7

That there are two factors to motivate staff hygiene factors and motivational factors.
Hygiene factors (salaries,wages, working conditions, work life balance) gave employees general satisfaction with work but didn’t motivate them anymore than they already were.
Motivating factors (status, recognition, responsibility, challenging work, promotion) increase motivation making staff highly satisfied and had stronger commitment to work.

Question 8

What financial incentives can businesses use to motivate staff?

Answer 8

Piecework, commission, bonus, profit share, performance related pay.

Question 9

What non-financial incentives can businesses use to motivate staff?

Answer 9

Delegation, consultation, empowerment, team working, flexible working, job enrichment, job rotation, job enlargement.