Title: Perspectives on Motivation
Headings: Perspectives on Motivation
Perspectives on Motivation
Motivation in the workplace is primarily concerned with improving employees' focus through the use of incentives.
Learning Objective
Key Points
Terms
Full Text
Needs-Oriented Theories
Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Need for Achievement Theory
Cognition-Oriented Theories
Equity Theory
Expectancy Theory
Behavior-Oriented Theories
Job-Oriented Theories
Two-Factor Theory
Work Engagement Theory
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Content: Maslow postulated that needs should be fulfilled in a particular scaffolded order, with food, water, and shelter in the bottom, most fundamental two tiers and intangible needs such as fulfillment, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging in the upper three tiers. While this framework makes a certain amount of logical sense, critics have noted that there have been minimal data that suggest employees strive to satisfy needs in the workplace in accordance with this hierarchical framework. But the fundamental idea behind Maslow's model is that individuals have various tangible and intangible desires that can be leveraged in the use of motivational incentives. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs postulates that need must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order, from basic needs such as food and water to more intangible needs such as self-esteem and a sense of belonging. Need for Achievement Theory
Atkinson and McClelland proposed the Need for Achievement Theory, which highlights three particular needs in the context of the workplace: achievement, authority, and affiliation. Atkinson and McClelland hypothesized that every individual has a need for all three of these intangible segments of fulfillment but that most individuals lean more toward one of the three. For example, a salesman with a quota to fulfill would be best paired with an achievement-oriented manager, as such a goal-oriented approach toward, for example, a specific number of sales would be highly motivating. Cognition-Oriented Theories
Cognition-oriented theories generally revolve around expectations and deriving equitable compensation for a given effort or outcome. There are two main cognition-oriented theories: