Theories of Motivation and their Application in the Modern Workplace

This report discusses different theories of motivation, such as Maslow's need hierarchy and Herzberg's two factors theory, and their application in the modern workplace. It emphasizes the importance of motivation in increasing productivity and efficiency. The report also explores the different needs of employees and how to fulfill them in order to maintain a positive work environment. It concludes by highlighting the significance of motivation in retaining employees and gaining a competitive edge in the current work environment.

Discuss theories of
motivation and how to
apply then in the
modern workplace

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 3
Main Body..................................................................................................................... 3
Motivation.................................................................................................................. 3
Different theories of motivation........................................................................................ 4
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................... 7
REFRENCES................................................................................................................. 8

INTRODUCTION
Motivation is a process by which individuals are motivated to work in desired manner. In
contemporary business world, motivation has become crucial way for managers to get the work
done by employees in an efficient manner. Motivate work force is more productive and put the
whole efforts for betterment of organization (Niskanen, 2017). For this, there are ample of
theories of motivation such as Maslow’s need hierarchy, Herxberg two factors theory and more
applied at work place for making appropriate use of skills and potential of staff members at work
place. The present report is based on different theories of motivation and its application on
current work place.
Main Body
Motivation
Motivation is a function by which organization stimulates employees in order to do work
in systematic way. It is more important to generate willingness in staff members to get the work
done in an effective way. So, leaders need to put all necessary efforts for arousing interest in
employees so that they put significant efforts for success of business. Motivation is a framework
as per which needs, desires of individuals need to take care by preparing an appropriate plan. It is
analyzed that there are various ways by which staff member can be motivated. During
conservative HR management, managers only prefer monetary ways of motivation but now, non
monetary approaches are also applied by managers for stimulating employees for better
performance. Now, it is important to first analyze the requirement of work force and then
motivate them accordingly. For this purpose, different types of motivation are mentioned below:
Monetary motivation: In this, employees are provided monetary benefits when they
achieve set targets within deadlines (Sica, 2019). It comprises ample of monetary benefits such
as increment in salary, bonus, incentives, profit sharing and more. It is stated that for meeting
with basic requirements and to fulfill desires, it is important to have adequate amount of funds.
Hence, monetary motivation induces staff members to work in desired manner.

Non monetary motivation: In contemporary time, non monetary motivation has also
become a crucial part of motivation process. Employees also expected to get appreciation,
appraisal, promotion, and recognition in return of the work & efforts; they are putting for growth
of company. Efforts of staff members cannot be always measure in monetary terms. So,
managers need to arrange appropriate felicitation programs for recognizing efforts of employees
in significant manner.
Different theories of motivation
In modern work place, motivation is one of the crucial functions by which company can
maintain positive relationship with work force. In addition to this, motivation is also helpful in
retaining employees for longer duration. In this regards, different models of motivation are
mentioned as under:
Maslow’s need hierarchy model
It is a widely used model of motivation under which individuals are motivated by
fulfilling their needs in hierarchical manner (Kasurinen and Knutas, 2018). Here, the order starts
with basic and fundamental needs which further move towards advance level of needs. In present
time, it is important to identify different requirements of employees for making best use of their
potential. In this regard, different hierarchy of the model is mentioned below:
Physiological needs: These are the fundamental requirements of human survival which is
related with basic needs such as food, shelter, cloth and more. Without satisfying these needs, it
is quiet difficult for a person to work effectively. It is the first and most important needs which
should be fulfill with priority as all other requirements are secondary until this needs are not
fulfill significantly.
Safety needs: After meeting with fundamental needs, individual feel the requirement of
safety and security which is initially provided by family and society. At work place, it is the
responsibility of HR manager to ensure secure environment for employees. In addition to this,
they are also required to provide financial security to work force by arranging appropriate
insurance facilities.

Social needs: Humans are social element thus have some social needs under which they
seek for love, belongingness from friends, family and society. It refers to emotional requirements
of human of interpersonal relationship, connectedness and being a part of group.
Self esteem: It is the advance level need which occurs after satisfaction of above stated
needs in an efficient manner (Bradley and Rustin, 2018). Under this, a person seeks for
appreciation, reputation and acknowledgement from others. It is important to fulfill this
requirement for maintaining self worth and higher level of confidence.
Self Actualization: It is the highest level of Maslow’s need hierarchy where individual
get feeling of self fulfillment. In this, one achieves highest level of satisfaction by making
efficient use of inner potential and competencies.
In modern work place, this theory is highly important as it enables HR managers in order
to meet with requirements of employees in hierarchical manner. It focuses to first fulfill the basic
requirements such as physiological, safety and social needs which are essential to maintain
higher level of productivity & efficiency of work force. According to this, HR managers also
arrange appropriate informal groups, talks so that staff members can socialize with each other. In
this, managers move towards higher level needs such as self esteem and self actualization
requirements after fulfilling the basic needs primarily. So, Maslow’s need hierarchy has become
one the most effective theory which is applied at modern work place significantly.
Herzberg’s two factors theory
This theory was developed by Herzberg for stimulating employees in an efficient manner
at work place. It includes two factors such as motivator and hygiene factors (Baker, Johnson and
Roberts, 2018). Here, these factors are important in order to satisfy employees and also play a
crucial role in preventing job dissatisfaction at work place. These both factors are given below:
Motivator: These factors inspired work force for superior performance and provide them
job satisfaction. Motivator factors are related to work and stimulate employees for putting their
best efforts for success of organization. Some motivator factors are recognition, achievement,
responsibility and so on. In modern work place, employees are considered as imperative part of

business so it is vital for managers to adopt this practice so that staff members get motivated &
inspired towards work in an efficient manner.
Hygiene: Along with motivation, it is also important to keep employees satisfied and
prevent such practices which dissatisfy them. Hence, it is significant to ensure presence of these
elements so that employees do not get dissatisfied. It comprises adequate pay, company policies,
fringe benefits, positive working condition. This factors need to present in modern day work
place for ensuring job satisfaction of work force. Otherwise, it might cause job dissatisfaction
which is not good for the reputation of company.

CONCLUSION
It is assessed with above discussion that modern day work place is related to apply new
and advance approaches for satisfaction of employees. In contemporary business world,
motivation is significant so that employees stay with business entity for longer duration.
Discussion has been carried out about appropriate theories of motivation such as Maslow’s and
Herzberg along with their application at modern work place. It is summarized that these theories
provide appropriate guidance to human resource manager in order to motivate staff members
significantly to get the desired work done in an efficient manner. Moreover, motivation is
important for enhancing productivity and efficient of work force for gaining competitive edge in
current work place.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Baker, M., Johnson, K. and Roberts, I., 2018. Passive arguments raised. In Diachronic and
Comparative Syntax (pp. 261-295). Routledge.
Bradley, J. and Rustin, M., 2018. Work discussion: Learning from reflective practice in work with
children and families. Routledge.
Kasurinen, J. and Knutas, A., 2018. Publication trends in gamification: A systematic mapping
study. Computer Science Review, 27, pp.33-44.
Niskanen, J., 2017. Bureaucracy and representative government. Routledge.
Sica, A., 2019. Classical sociological theory. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Sociology, pp.1-
20.