Motivation Theories: Description, Analysis and Recommendations

This report discusses various motivation theories such as Maslow's hierarchy theory, Herzberg's motivational-hygiene theory, and Adam's equity theory of motivation. It analyzes how these theories can be applied in the workplace to motivate employees and improve their performance. The report also provides recommendations for organizations to recognize employees' work, maintain transparent communication, provide appropriate compensation, and create a better working environment.

Individual essay
(Assessment-2)

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
Description of relevant theories...................................................................................................3
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................4
Recommendations........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Motivation is defined as the process that is related to initiating, guiding, and influencing the
goal-oriented behaviour. It is derived from the word motive that means needs, desire as well as
derives within an individual. Thera are various forces such as emotional, social, biological and
cognitive that activate the behaviour and motivate them to perform in desirable manner. There
are various theories of motivation are available that are used by the managers to motivate
employees to perform efficiently such as content theory, process theory and cognitive theory.
Managers of organisation need to analyse employee’s needs and motivations forces of employees
than implement suitable one that impact on the behaviour of employees. This report covers
description of relevant motivation theories, analysis of this theories. Along with that
recommendation to improve motivation among employee are explained in this project report.
TASK
Description of relevant theories
Theories of motivation is separated into content as well as process theory in which content
theory explain the concept of motivation on the other hand, process theory describe how
motivation occurs. In content theory Maslow’s hierarchy theory, Alderfer’s ERG theory and
Herzberg’s motivational-hygiene theory and on process theory Edems’ equity theory of
motivation Vroom’s expectancy theory. Maslow’s theory of hierarchy is most recognise theory
of motivation that is introduced by the Abraham Maslow that explained the level of motivation
through satisfying needs that are arranged in hierarchical manner (Abed, 2018). He also
explained that a satisfied need does not motivate, it is the sense of dissatisfaction that moves an
individual towards the direction of fulfilment. Needs and conditions in an individual are essential
for maintaining the growth and well-being in life. There are five hierarchical levels are included
in Maslow hierarchy theory of motivation such as psychological need, safety and security need,
love and belongings’ need, self-esteem and self-actualisation need. It starts from lower level and
goes to the top, once the one level of needs on an employee is fulfilled than next level of need
raised that motivated them to perform in great efficiency and effectiveness. In current business
environment, organisational understands the needs of employees in each hierarchical level and
fulfil their requirements to enhance employee’s employee’s performance and productivity and
retain them with organisation for longer period of time. As psychological need is related to food,

shelter so organisation provide appropriate compensation and salary that help them to fulfil their
basic requirements. After fulfilment of this need. Safety and security need raised in which
business motivated employees through provide them stability. After that in love and
belongingness need business manages maintain effective relationship at workplace that inspire
employees to perform determined operations with more efficiency. In next stage, managers
ensure that employees get recognition, respect and glory for their extra work and efforts that
motivates employees to improve their performance and contribute in attaining business goals and
objectives (Breaugh, Ritz and Alfes, 2018). Self-actualisation is the last stage of this
motivational theory in which organisation need to give opportunity to employees to utilise their
skills and competencies. That how business uses the theory of motivation to inspire employees
and improve their performance.
Next motivational theory is Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory that is also known as the two
factor theory. This motivational theory is related to the address employee motivation as well as
recognise two souses of job satisfaction. The theory states that motivating factors influence
employees job satisfaction because they are based on the needs as well as personal growth,
recognition, achievement and responsibilities. Whereas, hygiene factor represents the deficiency
needs that could make an individual unhappy with their particular job such as organisational
policies and administration, working conditions and supervision. In current workplace, business
analyse these factors and ensure that employees are satisfied with organisation and retain for
longer period of time.
Another theory of motivation is Adam’s equality theory of motivation is based on the
social exchange theory that stages that employees are motivated when they are equally rerated as
well as receive fair opportunity to grow and develop. This theory suggests that an individual not
only able to compare contribution and rewards that are received in organisation but they can also
compare what other employee receive for similar inputs (Dyrberg, Treusch, and Wiegand, 2017).
Thu equality at workplace is necessary to motivate employees and influence them perform
determined operations in efficient manner.
Analysis
From the above discussion, it is analysed that it is important for the organisation to adopt
appropriate or suitable motivational theories as well as implement it in workplace that motivate
employees to perform their operations with efficiency and effectiveness. motivated employees

are more productive for business and lead it towards growth and development. There are various
theories that are implemented by the business to inspire employees and retain them with
organisation for longer period of time. Content and process motivational theories are used by
business that includes various theories. Maslow’s need hierarchy theory is the content theory in
which five level of needs are included that are start from psychological need to self-actualisation.
After accomplishment of one level, need of other level is raised that motivates employees to
perform operations in effective manner. Organisations applies this theory at workplace and
motivates employees through provide attractive compensate, maintain relationship with
employees, recognise their work as well as provide them opportunities use their skills and
competencies in efficient manner. it is analysed that, through executing this motivational theory
business can understand the needs and requirements of employees and motivate them
accordingly (Hiver, Kim, and Kim, 2018). At each level of hierarchy, employees are motivated
through different things. So, it is important for the organisation recognise employees state and
influence them properly that influence them to perform their operations with great efficiency and
effectiveness.
Herzberg’s two factors motivation theory helps business to analyse sources of job
satisfaction. It is analysed that motivating factors enhances employees job satisfaction because
they are related to employee’s personal growth, recognition and advancement. It can be possible
that motivated employees can be dissatisfies and a satisfied employee also can be demotivated.
So, it is important for the organisation to understand both concepts and motivate employees to
perform with more efficiency and effectiveness.
There are range of process theories that are related to the motivation which are adopted by the
organisation to motivate employees to improve their working performance and retain with
organisation for long period of time. Adams’ equity theory of motivation is invented with the
concept of motivating employees through provide them equal opportunities and treatment in
business. Employees in business compare their performance and rewards with other’s if it is
equal than they feel motivated and in case it is not equal than it demotivates employees and
reduce their working performance (Latvėnė, 2017). So, it is important for the organisation to
behave with employees on equal bases and provide them growth and development opportunities
as well.

Recommendations
It is very important for the organisation to motivate and inspire employees that improves
their performance and enhance their contribution to attain organisational goas and objectives
with great efficiency. As there are various motivational theories are implemented by the
organisation. Some recommendations are mentioned below:
 It is recommended to organisation to recognise employees work to motivate them at
workplace. Recognition enhance employee’s morale and their working performance.
Management of organisation need to provide feedback to employees as positive
feedbacks make employees feel valued in organisation. If employees are feel valued than
they are motivated to attain higher level of performance.
 It is suggested to maintain transparent and effective communication at all hierarchical
level of organisation that enable manager to convey all policies, roles and responsibilities
to employees and include employees in business decision-making process. All these
actions improve employee’s morale and motivate them to align with business.
 It is advised business to provide appropriate and suitable compensation to employees as
per their performance (Mercer, 2019). It is also required to provide benefits and
incentives to employees for their extra performance. It improves employee’s performance
and motivation that enable them to attain their personal and professional goals in best
possible manner.
 Better working environment should be provided to employees and maintain good
relationship with them that influence them to perform business activities and operations
with full efficiency and effectiveness (Roberts, 2017).
CONCLUSION
As per the above report, it can be concluded that motivation is most essential factor that
enable employees to perform in better way and attain goals and objectives with efficiency.
Business implements various motivational theories that enable it to understand the factors that
motivates employees. After analysation these factors, business develop various policies and
strategies to motivate employees and lead their efforts and in right direction to attain objectives.
It is important for organisation to analyse employee’s performance regularly take actions towards
improving it plays significant role in business success.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abed, S., 2018. An empirical examination of Instagram as an s-commerce channel. Journal of
Advances in Management Research.
Breaugh, J., Ritz, A. and Alfes, K., 2018. Work motivation and public service motivation:
disentangling varieties of motivation and job satisfaction. Public Management
Review, 20(10), pp.1423-1443.
Dyrberg, N.R., Treusch, A.H. and Wiegand, C., 2017. Virtual laboratories in science education:
students’ motivation and experiences in two tertiary biology courses. Journal of
Biological Education, 51(4), pp.358-374.
Hiver, P., Kim, T.Y. and Kim, Y., 2018. Language teacher motivation. Language teacher
psychology, pp.18-33.
Latvėnė, I., 2017. Analysis of personnel motivational system in Rokiškis district
municiipalyti (Doctoral dissertation, Mykolo Romerio universitetas).
Mercer, S., 2019. Language learner engagement: Setting the scene. Second handbook of English
language teaching, pp.643-660.
Roberts, L.E., 2017. Comparative psychophysiology of the electrodermal and cardiac control
systems. In Cardiovascular psychophysiology (pp. 163-189). Routledge.