Theories of Motivation and their Application in Modern Workplace

This report discusses the various theories of motivation and their application in the modern workplace. It focuses on Morrisons, a UK-based supermarket chain, and how it uses motivational tools to inspire its employees towards common goals. The report covers Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg Two-Factor theory, and Alderfer's ERG Theory.

Individual Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................4
Discuss theories of motivation and how to apply then in the modern workplace. .....................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Motivation is a most effective tool to pre -determined the course of action. It is a process
of encouraging the employee to improve quality of work. It is the most effective tool that are
used to create positive environment within an organisation. It improve relation among the
employees. In order to achieve organisation goal, the company is required to use the various
theories of motivation to inspire the employees towards common goal. It can be done through
various ways such as incentives, promotion, increment etc. It is a way to review the performance
of employees and their contribution in the performance of an organisation. Motivated employees
always put their efforts towards the maximisation of profit. It is also very important for the
organisation to satisfy all the basic need of their employees so that they can contribute
maximum to the organisation (Ainsworth, 2020). The organisation chosen for this report is
Morrisons which is established in UK. It is well known supermarket chain that provides the
fresh product to their consumers. The motivated employees are the main reason for the success
of the retail store. This report will cover the various theories of motivation and its implication in
the modern workplace.
TASK
Discuss theories of motivation and how to apply then in the modern workplace.
Employee motivation is a key factor to enhance the capacity of an organisation. Due to
globalisation and advancement of technology, it is very difficult for a company to survive in the
competitive market. Employees are the essential element of an organisation that helps the
company to overcome barriers that affects the growth of an organisation. Inspiration and
incitement helps the company to reach the objective of profit maximisation. It is a key
component that enhance the employees retention and reduce the stress and anxiety of work.
Motivation analyse the growth and knowledge of an individual and contributes in their success.
Further, it is divided into tow parts including positive and negative motivation that are given
according to the performance and conduct of employees within an organisation (Al Hawamdeh,
2022). There are various other source that contributes in inspiring and encouraging the
employees such as training , skill development programs etc., that helps the employees to
enhance their personal and professional skills. In context to Morrisons , they use reward based
technique in order to utilize their capacity and performance for work. Human resource are the

best of an organisation as their maximum effort ensure the success and profit. It increases
organisational behaviour and conduct of employee for growth in the competitive market. In
current era of modernization, it is very crucial for company to use motivational tool to avoid the
multiple consequences such as employment turnover, dynamic business environment ,
technology, market growth etc. Employees motivates where they get job security, status,
recognition of self esteem etc., are some of the factor that boost the morale of employees . It
contributes in gaining competitive advantage and value in the market. It has positive impact on
the growth of an organisation. It avoids conflicts and misunderstanding among the employees. It
is continuos process that may vary person to person. In context to Morrisons, they have been
used various theories of motivation to achieve set goals . It includes:
Maslow's Hierarchy of needs: This theory was first propounded by the Abraham Maslow. It
addresses the various needs and desire of their employees in order to satisfy them. This theory of
motivation deals with basic needs of livelihood such as food, clothing , shelter and water that are
essential for human survival. In context to Morrisons, they are able to fulfil all desires to
promotes their lifestyle and standards of living. It influence the psychological behaviour of an
employee to achieve the organisational goal.
The hierarchy of needs is divided into five different stages as defined by the Maslow includes:
 Physical or psychological needs: These fundamental needs are termed as lower and
basic needs that are important for existence of life. In context to Morrisons, they are
providing various facilities and benefits to their employees to ensure them better life. It is
most important because without it , the desires of other needs does not concern.
 Safety Needs: After fulfilment of first needs, the another important needs deals with
safety needs. It is essential for an organisation to provide safe and healthy working
condition to improve their efficiency and quality of work (Atapatt and Huybers, 2021). It
is vital necessities that are important to safeguard the personal security of body , health
and well being. Employees are highly motivated when there is security of job, life and
finance. In context to Morrisons, they provides the safety and security to employee's life
to protect them from verbal , non verbal and emotional hazards. This organisation aims to
reduce dispute and conflict among the members.
 Social Needs: Morrisons is an organisation where the employees are highly motivated
due to job satisfaction. They are conducted various activities that helps them to improve

their interaction and sense of belongingness among the members. It improves working
condition and create positive ambience for the workers, The management works
efficiently by using motivational tool in order to build cooperative team work who
contributes in the success of an organisation.
 Esteem Needs: These needs includes self respect and self esteem that are important to
build confidence and competitive spirit in the employees. In context to Morrison, they
provide healthy working atmosphere and encourage the participation of employees in
process of decision making to feel them satisfied and valuable for an organisation.
 Self Actualisation needs: This is defined as the highest level of needs that are important
to prioritize human life. It identifies the skills , knowledge and abilities of employees to
attain their desired goal. In context to Morrisons, they are focused on personal and
professional development of their employees to make them better mankind.
Therefore, all the above factors results in human motivation and job satisfaction in the
workplace. It is a tool that are used to bring transparency in the working style of employees.
Herzberg Two-Factor theory: This theory was developed to identify the factors that results
into job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction at workplace. These factor are further categorised
into two parts:
 Hygiene Factors: it is the external factor that may cause dissatisfaction among
employees as it involves job security, benefits, job status etc. that may not be motivates
enough to improve work in order to achieve their goals. In context to Morrisons, the
management set their plans and policies to provide job security , benefits and allowance
to avoid stress and conflict at workplace.
 Motivators: It is an important element that helps the employees in professional growth
and retain them at their workplace. If these needs are not fulfilled, then it may cause
dissatisfaction related to job (Atiku and Fields, 2019). It is quite challenging for them to
develop new skill and manage the responsibilities assigned to them at workplace. In
context to Morrisons, they emphasise mainly on the personal and professional knowledge
and skill of employees to make them satisfied at workplace.
Therefore, it is important for Morrisons to consider the Herzberg theory of motivation to
determine the factors that may cause job dissatisfaction among the employees.

Alderfer's ERG Theory: This theory of motivation is dealing with concept of Maslow
Hierarchy of needs. According to him, the hierarchy of neds is summarised by three ways. In
context to Morrisons, essential needs fulfil by them includes:
 Existence: It is an important aspect that deals with human survival. In order to ensure the
human existence, they must paid reasonably according to work done so, that employee
can fulfil their basic needs. In context to Morrisons, they are paying handsome salary to
their employees to enhance their standard of living.
 Relatedness: It includes interpersonal relation and bond among employees so that sense
of belongingness can easily be achieved (Bushi, 2021). In context to Morrisons, the
management assigned various task in group so that harmony and relation can easily made
with each other. It gives positive impact to organisation in order to attain common goal.
 Growth: It is an important aspect for which organisation is running. Growth is important
to achieve the objective of life. Growth can be examined through multiple ways such as
increment at workplace, incentives, promotion, self recognition and many more. In
Morrisons, employees are promotes every year according to their performance at
workplace and contribution they made towards the achievement of common objective of
an organisation.
However, the Morrisons, aims to satisfy all the needs of the employees in order to secure their
rights and interest towards organisation. It helps them to survive in the competitive market
because the current market situation is demanding highly skills and motivated labour who
contributes maximum in the growth of company.
CONCLUSION
From this above report, it has been concluded that motivation tool regulated the
activities and performance of employees. The organisation can succeed due to its human
resources who are committed and dedicated for their work. The organisation can easily compete
with dynamic and uncertain business environment , if they are handle their employees by
motivating them . It encourage them to target the set goal. Motivated employees are result
oriented and focused on the success of organisation. The modern workplace is very challenging
and complex due to which absence of motivation tool may affect the growth of such
organisation.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ainsworth, J., 2020. Feelings of ownership and volunteering: Examining psychological
ownership as a volunteering motivation for nonprofit service organisations. Journal of
Retailing and Consumer Services, 52, p.101931.
Al Hawamdeh, N., 2022. Investigating the moderating effect of humble leadership behaviour on
motivational factors and knowledge-sharing intentions: evidence from Jordanian public
organisations. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems.
Atapattu, M.M. and Huybers, T., 2021. Motivational antecedents, employee engagement and
knowledge management performance. Journal of Knowledge Management.
Atiku, S.O. and Fields, Z., 2019. Global Psychological Capital and Sustainable Competitive
Advantage. In Contemporary Multicultural Orientations and Practices for Global
Leadership (pp. 145-164). IGI Global.
Bushi, F., 2021. An Overview of Motivation Theories: The Impact of Employee Motivation on
Achieving Organizational Goals. Calitatea, 22(183), pp.8-12.
Pacesila, M. and Colesca, S.E., 2020. Motivation Of Human Resources: Perceptions And
Trends. In Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
CONFERENCE (Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 898-904). Faculty of Management, Academy of
Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania.
Tuuli, M.M. and Van Rhee, H., 2021. How Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity Drive
Individual Performance Behaviors in Projects: Tests of Competing Theories. Journal of
Management in Engineering, 37(6), p.04021070.
Wigfield, A., Muenks, K. and Eccles, J.S., 2021. Achievement motivation: what we know and
where we are going. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 3, pp.87-111.