Theories of Motivation and Their Application in the Modern Workplace

This essay discusses the different motivational theories and how they can be applied in the modern workplace. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Motivation Hygiene Theory, and Goal Setting Theory are explored in the context of Morrison, a well-known retailing company headquartered in Bradford, UK. The essay concludes that motivating employees on a regular basis can improve productivity and profitability for future growth.

Summative assessment

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main body........................................................................................................................................3
Discuss theories of motivation and how to apply them in the modern workplace......................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................7
Books and Journals:.....................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Motivation is the word which is used for enhancing the performance and productivity of
any individuals, group of individuals or organisation through words, practices and by many other
ways (Koenka, 2020). It is considered as one of the most important aspect for enhancing the
growth of a company because motivated employees will perform well with positive mind set.
The following essay will cover theories of motivation and their application at modern workplace.
The workplace chosen for this essay is Morrison which is one of the well-known retailing
company headquartered in Bradford, UK. It sells eatable products, groceries products,
magazines, dairy products and many others.
Main body
Discuss theories of motivation and how to apply them in the modern workplace
Motivation is the reason why an individual adopts the following behaviour to perform
and the level of desire by an individual to do something. In context of modern workplace of
various organisations, they mainly focus to motivate their employees by providing them few
benefits and perks so that they will get motivated to perform well within the organisation to
enhance overall productivity and profitability of their company. Motivation will not only help
them to enhance their productivity but it also helps a company to maintain a good relationship
between their employees and management team. There are various kinds of motivational theories
which can be applied at organisations to motivate their employees well.
One of the most popular motivational theory is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which is
introduced in the year 1943. this theory basically states that there are some specific needs and
wants of every individual which can be fulfilled to motivate them effectively. According to this
theory there are five needs of a human being. Physiological need is first level need of this theory
which consist of fulfilling the basic needs of an individual like food, shelter, water and few
others (Hale and et. al., 2019). Such kind of needs are essential for human survival. In context of
Morrison, they are paying effective salaries and wages to their employees which is above
minimum wage mentioned in the law of UK. Hence, their offerings will help their employees to
fulfil their basic needs and live a good life. Hence, their effective offerings in wages and salaries
will motivate their employees well. Security and safety needs are second level needs in this

theory where an individual expect health safety, safety from threat and safety of their life from
their surroundings. In context of Morrison, they provide effective compensation amount to their
employees in case of any injury and their employers also make sure that their employees will
work in safe and healthy working condition. Hence, the employees working with big tools and
machines within the company are given a safety kit like helmets, leather gloves, first aid kit and
many others to protect the employees from any injury at workplace. This will be one of the
highest motivation factor for the employees in Morrison that heir company and employer is
concerning their employees an important asset and they are concerning for their safety. Social
needs are third level need in this theory where an individual is expecting love, friendship and
social recognition within their surroundings (Abbas, 2020). In context of Morrison, they are
having good working culture where their employees work effectively with each other and
maintain a good relationship to communicate openly. This will help their employees to gain a
good friendship within the organisation. On the other hand, the company will also appreciate
those employees who openly share their ideas and concepts for organisational development.
Esteem needs comes at forth level in this theory where an individual need respect and
recognition from their surroundings and society. Morrison is a well reputed and high revenue
generated company, hence, their workers are also having high recognition within the society that
they are working for multinational company. Hence, this is how their fourth level of need also
achieved appropriately. Self-actualization need is last need of an individual according to this
theory of motivation where an individual expect professional and personal growth (Ștefan, Popa
and Albu, 2020). In context of Morrison, they are having a good growth opportunity for their
high performing employees. They promote and increase the salaries of their employees who
work well and they also allow effective training session for those employees who need to
develop their performance to achieve increments and promotions.
Herzberg's Motivation Hygiene Theory is another well-known motivational theory
which is also known as two-factor theory which further states different factors within the
workplace which will help to satisfy the employees. The two main factors of this theory are
Motivators and Hygiene factors. Motivators are those factors within the workplace which
encourage employees to work harder and hygiene factors are those factors which did not
encourage employees to work harder but their absence will cause a huge demotivation for
employees which may decline their overall performance. This theory further states that poor

hygienic factor decreases employee job satisfaction and motivational factors will help a company
to increase employee job satisfaction at workplace. Some of the motivating factors according to
this theory are achievement, recognition, responsibilities, growth opportunities and many others
(Thant and Chang, 2021). Hygiene factors are supervision, relationships, status, security and
many others. In context of chosen organisation, they are also having various motivating factors
such as achievement, where the job of employees helps them to gain the sense of achievement.
This will help to provide a proud feeling of having done something good and worthwhile. Here,
Morrison allot task according to the employee’s expertise and specialisation so that they will
perform the task effectively with their mental piece. They are also having good relationship
between their management team and employees. The management team allow the participation
of their employees in decision making process and concern their suggestions and advices for any
decision. Hence, this will help to gain high motivation for employees to perform their task
without any error. Advancement is another important motivating factor which should be
presented within the company (Hur, 2018). It includes growth opportunities for employees. In
context of chosen organisation, they are having effective training sessions for their low
performing employees so that they will enhance their skills and talents. They also train their
good performing employees so that they will learn new knowledge and techniques of performing
their task effectively. Morrison are also focusing on their hygiene factors well because their
managers are well known about the fact that the absence of these factors can cause a huge loss to
their organisation. Hygiene factors are company policies and Morrison is having well defines and
well developed organisational policy which they convey to their employees so that they will
follow ethical practices within the company. The mentioned company is also having a fair and
appropriate supervision process. The supervisors at their stores measure the performance of
their employees with fair conditions and they suggest corrective actions to their employees
which will help them to perform the task in much better way. Working condition is an
important factor of hygiene factors where employees expect a safe and well-being working
environment to get highly motivated. In context of Morrison, their employers are concern for the
health of their employees and that's why they provide health insurance, compensation, effective
and supportive team working environment and many others to their employees.
Goal setting theory is another important theory for an organisation and this theory is
developed by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham. According to this theory, goal setting is one of the

most important factor for an employee to get highly motivated because it helps to clear the
direction of employees that what he/she is required to do to achieve their objectives and aim.
Setting goals for employees will also help a company to develop the behaviour and interest of
employees in enhancing their overall productivity and profitability. According to a research it is
analysed that an organisation will grow faster when they set a target for their employees and
communicate effectively to them (Locke and Latham, 2019). In context of Morrison, their
employer set a goal for their employees as well as deadline to achieve the goal. Then they will
communicate it to their employees and make sure that they will understand the message as it is
delivered. Setting goals and work according to that goal will also help an individual to analyse
their strengths and weaknesses so that they will perform well to convert their weaknesses into
their strengths.
Conclusion
From the above information it is concluded that motivating employees on regular basis
will help an organisation to achieve high performance of their employees which further help
them to improve their produc6tivity and profitability for future growth. There are various kinds
of motivational factors such as Goal Setting Theory, Herzberg's Motivation Hygiene Theory,
Maslow's Hierarchy of Need and many others.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Abbas, J., 2020. Service quality in higher education institutions: qualitative evidence from the
students’ perspectives using Maslow hierarchy of needs. International Journal of Quality
and Service Sciences.
Hale, A.J. and et. al., 2019. Adapting Maslow's hierarchy of needs as a framework for resident
wellness. Teaching and learning in medicine, 31(1), pp.109-118.
Hur, Y., 2018. Testing Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation in the public sector: is it
applicable to public managers?. Public Organization Review, 18(3), pp.329-343.
Koenka, A.C., 2020. Academic motivation theories revisited: An interactive dialog between
motivation scholars on recent contributions, underexplored issues, and future
directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, p.101831.
Locke, E.A. and Latham, G.P., 2019. The development of goal setting theory: A half century
retrospective. Motivation Science, 5(2), p.93.
Ștefan, S.C., Popa, Ș.C. and Albu, C.F., 2020. Implications of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
theory on healthcare employees’ performance. Transylvanian Review of Administrative
Sciences, 16(59), pp.124-143.
Thant, Z.M. and Chang, Y., 2021. Determinants of public employee job satisfaction in
Myanmar: Focus on Herzberg’s two factor theory. Public Organization Review, 21(1),
pp.157-175.