Employee Motivation: Theories, Factors and Importance

This report from Desklib discusses the concept of employee motivation, including various theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Two Factor Theory, and McGregor's X and Y Theories. It also covers factors that influence employee motivation, such as policies and procedures, employee engagement, work-life balance, learning and development activities, and team building. The report emphasizes the importance of employee motivation for organizational success and provides recommendations for enhancing motivation levels.

Introducing People
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Explanation of Key Concepts..........................................................................................................1
Motivation..............................................................................................................................1
Motivation Theories.........................................................................................................................1
Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.................................................................................................2
Herzberg's Two Factor Theory...............................................................................................2
Mc Gregor's X and Y Theories...............................................................................................2
Importance of Employee Motivation...............................................................................................2
Factors that influence Employee’s Motivation................................................................................3
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
SELF-REFLECTION......................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
People management is basically a part of the human resource management that involves
process of retention of talent, acquisition and optimization of talent in the company. The process
of people management involves motivating, training and directing team members for the purpose
to maximize productivity of the employees and also enhancing the overall growth of people
working in the organization. In this report, it will involve the concept of motivation and how its
various factors can affect or influence the employee motivation. In addition to that it comprises
of the motivation theories, importance of employee motivation, factors that can influence
motivation, importance of motivation to the employees.
Explanation of Key Concepts
Motivation
Motivation is basically the process of influencing the behaviour of people by making them
strive voluntarily towards attainment of organizational goals. It is basically the process of
stimulating people in order to achieve objectives. In context to motivation, it is both internal and
personal and is basically continues feeling. In relation to motivation, it can be both positive and
negative and the response of motivation can be different for each and every person. According to
researchers, the process of motivation is highly complex and is considered to be a psychological
concept. In the process of direction plays a significant importance and a good motivational
system basically releases in mental and physical abilities. Through satisfying human needs it
helps in increasing productivity. Effective motivation helps in creating job satisfaction and also
helps in achievement of personal goals. When it comes to employees, if they are motivated it
helps in satisfaction of job and also further helps in development of individual.
Motivation Theories
Motivation Theories: Motivation Theory is basically the study of understanding in context to
what drives an individual to work towards a particular outcome or goal. In context to motivation
theory, it is related to the society but also plays a very important role in management and
business (Roberts, and et. al, 2018). In context to a motivated employee, it is more productive
and results in more profitable opportunities.
1

Theories of Motivation:
Maslow's Hierarchy of needs
According to Maslow, the needs of an individual starts from basic to higher level needs
and involves various categories starting from physiological needs that involves clothing, food
and shelter, safety and security needs that involves physical protection, social needs, esteem
needs, self-actualisation needs. The fulfilment of primary needs and major needs can be done to
enhance the motivation levels among the employees(Kane, 2019).
Herzberg's Two Factor Theory
It is also known as Motivator Hygiene that helps in determining how an individual feel
bad or good about their job. In context to employees, Herzberg stated five features of work
which involves achievement, job itself, satisfaction, advancement and responsibility (Miller and
Davidson, 2019).
Mc Gregor's X and Y Theories
These theories categorize employees as belonging to one of two groups which are based
on the assumptions. In context to Theory X, it takes a negative perspective of the people and
Theory Y assumptions take the opposite view.
Importance of Employee Motivation
The employee motivation is basically the level of creativity, energy and commitment that
an organization worker brings to their jobs. The employee motivation is considered to be the
important factor in order to make an organization successful (Leung and et. Al., 2019). It
basically involves the level of energy, commitment and drive that an employee brings to the
organization. Without employee motivation, the organization experience lower levels of output
and reduce productivity. When it comes to employee working motivation is particularly low
which further results in spending time on phones, slower pace and avoiding tasks. Staff
motivation plays a very important role in the organization.
Benefits of employee Motivation
2

 More Innovation: In context to motivating employees with various benefits and rewards
it helps in growing a culture of innovation. In an organization, employees are supported
and appreciated by the company. It is very important to give importance to motivation in
the workplace. It is very important for the managers to recognize various factors that help
in motivating employees.
 Higher Productivity Levels: With the help of proper employee motivation techniques it
encourages individuals to work productivity. With the help of right motivation factors it
helps in promoting high job satisfaction (Rizvi and et. al., 2018).
 Stronger Recruitment and Great Reputation: The organization who knows how to
motivate employees can result in delivering better employee experiences. With the help
of right motivational factors it helps in building strong brand reputation and also helps in
facilitating stronger recruitment.
Factors that influence Employee’s Motivation
Complete employee motivation can be defined as the state of concentration and awareness
of the employees towards their organisation and their enthusiasm to work at their workplace. The
employee who are motivated are well aware of their work, responsibilities and roles at their
workplace which helps them to work effectively at there were place and produce optimum
results. There are certain factors that influence the employees’ motivation at their work place
which are as follows.
 The policies and procedures of an organisation: The policies of an organisation towards
employee engagement, remuneration, compensation, growth and development, career
enhancement, decision making etc. determines and influences the employee motivation.
The policies and procedures of an organisation are the major factors which play an
important role in enhancing the performance of employees and their motivation level
(Abed and et. al., 2019).
 The employee engagement activities within an organisation: The employee engagement
is also useful to enhance the motivational activities and development process of the
employees at their workplace which helps to increase their performance and bring
optimum results of their work (Dinh and et. al., 2018). The employee engagement
3

activities such as training and development, work life balance, work recognition etc. can
highly affect the employees’ motivation and their performance at the workplace.
 Work life balance: It is very important for an organisation to maintain and overall well
and prosperous work life balance of their employees so that good and healthy
relationships with the employees can be maintained. With the implementation of the
proper work hours an organisation can improve the psychological, physical and social
health of the employees which also enhance is their motivation at their work (O’Connell
and et. al, 2021).
 Learning and development activities: It is observed that the employees who are engaged
in continuous learning and development activities are more likely to be happy and
enthusiastic at their work. With the help of the latest knowledge and skills the employees
are more motivated to take initiatives for the activities and projects assigned to them.
With the help of continuous learning and development activities the employees also move
towards continuous growth and development in the rapid speed.
 Team building and work culture: The place of work and the people around the
employees affect the employee motivation because if they are motivated and suitable
work conditions prevail and the employee also feel motivated. The employees working in
the team are motivated by their team members if all the members work effectively and
encourage each other at the workplace (Almunawar and et. al., 2018). It reduces the
chances of conflicts and Chaos among the employees at the workplace.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
From the above report, it can be concluded that people management plays a very
important in the organization. In context to organizations, motivation plays a very important role
and also helps in boosting morale and increasing productivity of the organization. The various
theories of motivation help in guiding the employees and play a very significant role in order to
make the leaders and managers to have a deeper understanding of the various motivation factors.
In addition to that it helps in determining the concept of employee motivation and its importance.
From the above report it had been obtained that there are various aspects that affect the
employ motivation and it is recommended to the organisation that it should constantly look
towards those factors which affect the employee motivation. It is recommended that the
4

organisation should create favourable policies, provide development activities, career growth,
employee engagement, work life balance, team building activities etc. to the employees so that
high level of motivation among them can be created. It is also recommended that an organisation
can use certain motivational theory such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, McGregor X and Y
theories, Herzberg theory, etc. to enhance employee motivation activities within the organisation.
It is recommended that the employee motivation within an organisation should be given a higher
priority because it benefits the employees as well as the organisation at various levels.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abed, H. and et. al., 2019. Oral and dental management of people with myelodysplastic
syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic search and evidence‐based clinical
guidance. Special Care in Dentistry, 39(4). pp.406-420.
Almunawar, M.N. and et. al., 2018. How people choose and use their Smartphones.
In Management Strategies and Technology Fluidity in the Asian Business Sector (pp.
235-252). IGI Global.
Dinh, H. and et. al., 2018. Self‐management intervention using teach‐back for people with heart
failure in Vietnam: A cluster randomized controlled trial protocol. Nursing & health
sciences, 20(4). pp.458-463.
Kane, G., 2019. The technology fallacy: people are the real key to digital
transformation. Research-Technology Management, 62(6). pp.44-49.
Leung, M.Y. and et. Al., 2019. The effect of facilities management of common areas on the
environment domain of quality of life or older people in private buildings. Facilities.
Miller, A. and Davidson, S., 2019. Co-ordinating meaning within a gender identity development
service: What can the theory of the co-ordinated management of meaning offer clinicians
working with young people, and their families, exploring their gender identities. Clinical
child psychology and psychiatry, 24(2). pp.322-337.
O’Connell, S. and et. al, 2021. Self-management support preferences of people with asthma or
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of
qualitative studies. Chronic Illness, 17(3). pp.283-305.
Rizvi, S. and et. al., 2018, August. A smart home appliances power management system for
handicapped, elder and blind people. In 2018 4th International Conference on Computer
and Information Sciences (ICCOINS) (pp. 1-4). IEEE.
Roberts, A. W., and et. al, 2018. Glycaemic management during the inpatient enteral feeding of
people with stroke and diabetes. Diabetic Medicine, 35(8). pp.1027-1036.
6

SELF-REFLECTION
The report for employee motivation was helpful to understand the concept of employee
engagement and employee performance at the workplace. It also helped me to understand
various theories and strategies for managing people and enhancing their motivation at the
workplace. In order to develop the report I needed to understand, evaluate as well as research
about the employee motivation activities within an organisation that are performed in order to
enhance the performance of employees at the workplace. Although I faced many problems
regarding this activity like searching the suitable content and suitable data to be opted to write in
this report and various formats of writing the report to make it effective and efficient in all the
ways.
While preparing this report I understood that I have a good reading and comprehension
ability because I came to know that whatever I read in the classroom during the academic
sessions that were very well remembered by me helped me to prepare the report and the project
easily. I learnt that there are various theories that are helpful to motivate the employees at their
workplace and enhance their overall performance so that best results can be obtained from their
work. The search of various motivation theories that I conducted and research on them went very
successful due to the availability of library books and the management department that provided
support for the completion of this project. I learnt that motivation theories are basically the
frameworks and strategies that can be utilised to enhance the performance or influence the
performance of an individual by using various methods and strategies that are mentioned in these
employee motivation theories. I identified Maslow's hierarchy of needs which consisted of five
stages of employee motivation starting from the basic needs to the maximum level needs of the
employees which are required to be satisfied to motivate them.
I worked with various people for preparing this report and understood that my ability to
work with others is very good and it can help me to enhance my development activities and
career growth in the future. I identified Herzberg's two factor theories and McGregor X and Y
theories that can enhance the motivation activities at the workplace and raise the performance of
employees. I think that my note writing ability has gone very well and has supported me to
prepare the report effectively and efficiently throughout the academic year. I also uncovered the
importance of employee motivation and its benefits that can be gained like higher level of
innovation, better productivity levels, enhancement in recruitment activities and high resolution
7

of the business, etc. For preparing the report I communicated with my teachers and have seen
and felt that I like proper communication skills that I need to develop in the further academic
sessions and upcoming years so that I can come effectively. I also identified various factors with
the help of the reports that were presented on various practices of human resource management.
During the preparation of this assignment I faced many problems such as researching for the
documents because a huge amount of content was available for the human resource activities that
enhances motivation of employees.
8