Literature review on Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

Running head: Literature review
Literature review
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1Literature review
Abstract
The aim of the literature review is to shed light on Herzberg two factor theory of
Herzberg. Thus, in order to carry out the study in an integrated manner, the paper conducts a
literature review. The paper begins the discussion by giving an introduction of the entire course
of the study and then proceeds with discussing different factors of the theory such as hygiene
factor and motivational factor. Meanwhile, the paper also conducts literature review on the
methodology of the theory. While elaborating on the methodology of two factor theory of
Herzberg, the study included several author’s interpretation to that. As the most essential part of
the discussion, the study also highlighted the critical approach to Herzberg’s theory followed by
a summarization of the whole discussion.

2Literature review
Introduction
The purpose of the study is to give a literature review on the two factor theory of
Herzberg. The entire course of the discussion critically analyses Herzberg’s theory from different
perspectives. While conducting the literature review on the chosen topic, several themes had
been figured out and then applied in the whole course of the discussion. The discussion begins
by shedding light on the historical background of the theory, as to what the different literatures
has opined. The paper then goes on with elaborating several literatures under different themes
like hygiene factor, motivational factor and methodology. The two factor theory is mostly
popular by Herzberg’s dual factor theory or Herzberg’s hygiene theory (Alshmemri, Shahwan-
Akl & Maude, 2017, pp. 13). Whether it is hygiene theory or dual factor theory, the theory states
the existence of certain factors within workplace. While some of the factors are reasons behind
job satisfaction, some factors are also there that cause job dissatisfaction. The psychologist
Frederick Herzberg is generally considered as the maker of the theory for which the theory is
named as Herzberg’s theory. As per Herzberg, factors of job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction
are correlated with each other.
Discussion - Literature Review
Herzberg’s Two-factor Motivation Theory
In accordance with, the two factor theory is mainly known as Herzberg’s dual factor
theory or Herzberg’s hygiene theory. Irrespective of its names, the theory states the existence of
certain factors within workplace (Ghazi, Shahzada & Khan, 2013, pp. 445). While some of the
factors cause job satisfaction, some factors are also there which cause job dissatisfaction the

3Literature review
psychologist Frederick Herzberg is generally regarded as the innovator of the theory thus the
theory is named as Herzberg’s theory. As per Herzberg, factors of job satisfaction and job
dissatisfaction are correlated with each other.
Brief history about Herzberg’s motivation theory
Alshmemri, Shahwan-Akl and Maude (2017), stated “in 1959, Herzberg, Mausner and
Snyderman published the two-factor model of work motivation and developed the motivation-
hygiene theory, which was influenced by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Herzberg created a two-
dimensional paradigm of factors influencing people’s attitudes towards work” (p. 15). As per
Yusoff, Kian and Idris (2013), Herzberg proposed the theory in the year of 1959 (p. 20). After
conducting a research over a group of people regarding their experience at work Herzberg
penned down the theory based on his research. His research was conducted By Herzberg and his
associates on carried a survey over 200 engineers as well as accountants working in different
firms of Pittsburgh area of the United States of America. Herzberg (2017) further explained that
with the purpose to figuring out the impact of several factors on employees including both the
positive as well negative (p. 65). The surveyed people were asked about their previous
experience and then Herzberg along with his other associates categorized their experiences into
two sections namely, positive and negative. According to Tilekar and Pachpande (2014), based
upon the survey result, Herzberg came up with the conclusion about the existence of influential
factors within workplace in relation with job satisfaction as well as job dissatisfaction (p. 897).
The very last of the job conditions has been regarded as the maintenance or hygiene factors by
Herzberg while the very fast conditions have been regarded as the motivational factors by him
(Ozguner & Ozguner 2014, pp. 26). In this regard, Herzberg stated that motivational factors are
intrinsic in nature and the hygiene factors are extrinsic in nature.