An Analysis of Motivation Theories and Their Modern Applications

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of motivation and its significance in organizational settings. It delves into various motivation theories, including Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory, McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y, Adam's Equity Theory, and Vroom's Expectancy Theory. The essay explains each theory's core concepts and principles, offering real-world examples of their application, particularly within organizations like M&S. It discusses how these theories can be used to understand and enhance employee motivation, performance, and overall job satisfaction. The essay also highlights the importance of considering individual needs and preferences when applying these theories in the modern workplace, emphasizing the role of fair treatment, recognition, and opportunities for growth. Finally, the conclusion underscores the critical role of motivation in achieving organizational objectives and fostering a positive work environment.

ESSAY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Motivation and its theories..........................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Motivation refers to the inner desire and need that will encourage an individual to take
efficient moves with regard to work and the organization. There is an equal implication of
motivation in every organization whether in case of past, present or modern time. It is essential
that the organization should take every possible move and imply every model of motivation in
order to raise the level of motivation of its employees and workforce. This essay will discuss
about the concept of motivation and its theories along with their implication in modern time.
MAIN BODY
Motivation and its theories
Motivation is derived from the latin word motive which means the inner desire or need
that encourage an individual to take adequate step in the direction of the attainment of goal
(Pomerance, Converse and Moon, 2020). Motivation is the inner satisfaction and desire which
will insist an individual to take initiative which could assist it to attain its own goal and the
organizational goal at large.
It is very essential that there should be existence of motivation so that organization can direct its
initiatives towards the direction of its objectives.
Theories:
Maslow’s need hierarchy theory:
This is one of the major theory that is applicable with the employees of every
organization. As per this theory in order to motivate the employees, organization need to focus
over the fulfilment of 5 major needs with respect to employees. These needs are:
Physiological needs:
These includes the basic needs which every employee wants that it must be fulfilled when
they are employing with some organization. This include food, clothing and shelter need. This
means that it is a general expectation by employees that when working in organization this will
be fulfilled (Stewart, Nodoushani, and Stumpf, 2018).
Safety needs:
This is the second major need concerning safety regarding work and the family safety.
This means that every employee wants to work in such company where basic safety precaution

taken by company for their employees. For example: health insurance which is made by M&S
with regard to their workforce.
Social needs:
It is the need concerning the society and the people. Here an individual want that its
societal need in terms of some reputation and prestige will be there so that it will remain
motivated (Hopper, 2020). For example: social gathering and get together organized by the
M&S.
Esteem needs:
This need is related with the respect and self-reputation. This means that an individual
will be motivated if its moves will be appreciated and others will respect him. For this M&S
usually make appreciation of its employee’s good moves in front of others so that its workforce
will remain motivated.
Self-actualization need:
It is the place where an individual will get everything which is being desired by him. it is
the phase of dreams come into reality (Fallatah and Syed, 2018).
Thus, by considering these needs by M&S it can maintain and raise motivation among
the workforce and raise their performance too. However, in case of M&S it usually comply and
implement this theory in its workplace with regard to its employees in terms of appraising good
moves of its workforce, enabling adequate safety needs, organizing parties and social gathering
and various other aspects with regard to this theory and maintaining with raising the employee’s
motivation.
Adom’s Equity theory of motivation:
As per this theory equality and fair treatment is the only way to motivate employees. This
means that if an organization wants that its employees will remain motivated then it need to
adopt the practice of equal treatment. This theory says that in order to motivate employee’s
organization need to consider that every employee will be treated equally and entitle equal
benefits in case of showing and putting equal efforts (Badubi, 2017). This means that the
employees will not to be discriminated on any basis. This is one of the major theory which also
apply in the modern world because in case if the organization will treat its employees partially
and not enable equal benefits then this will lead to creation of demotivation among them and as a
result their work and performance will be affected. However, in case of M&S it is always

ensured that the employees will be treated fairly and equally with no discrimination. Likewise, it
is also ensured that the benefits and advantages will be distributed equally in case of equal
participation and moves.
Theory X and Theory Y by McGregor:
As per this theory there are two categories of employees in every organization which
need different means and treatment with regard to motivation.
Theory X:
Under this theory all those employees will be counted who have low interest, morale,
need ambition with respect to work. As per this theory organization need to adopt hard approach
in terms of offering financial benefits or other means in order to motivate the employees and let
them work (SAMBHAV, 2020).
Theory Y:
It includes all those employees who have desire and inner need with regard to work.
These employees themselves want to work. in order to motivate these employees, organization
need not to take any hard approach or more moves because they are self-motivated. However,
performance appraisal and appraisement are the means that will lead to motivation among them.
This theory is also having applicability in modern time because presence of these categories of
employees are always exist in every organization and making treatment according to their need
will lead to have raise in level of motivation among them.
Herzberg’s Motivation Hygiene theory-
This theory was developed by Frederick Herzberg, applicable in the workplace and
satisfy expectation level of employee on the basis of two important dimensions such as hygiene,
motivation. Motivators are those who always encourage staff members in regards of hard work.
On the other hand, Hygiene factors are not encourages employee to work harder but it
will cause them become de-motivated if they were not achieved their desirable goal or objective.
Herzberg’s motivation theory is basically applied in the modern workplace such as M&S.
in order to consider motivational factors such as Achievement, recognition, responsibility,
advancement and growth (Chiat and Panatik, 2019). These are considered the motivational
factors which is always inspire or motivate large number of people. For example- M&S is
leading brand across global world and focus on the implementing Herzberg theory to give a

better options for their staff members. In this way, each and every members feel so much
motivated, and putting extra efforts to achieve organizational targets on daily basis.
Apart from that hygiene factors include in modern workplace such as company policies,
supervision, relationships, work condition, salary and status. These are basically consider as
hygiene factor which include in modern workplace. Therefore, different staff members are used
the hygiene factors to follow all rule or regulation. it is always encouraging the employees to use
both motivation as well as hygiene factors. in order to improve or manage the coordination with
modern workplace.
Vroom’s Expectancy theory-
It is one of the most widely acceptable theory of motivation and also known as cognitive
process. This kind of theory was developed on the basis of individual demand of people. It
depends on the relationship between efforts, performance, achievement and other rewards what
they receive. For example- in modern workplace, M&S has been implemented the Vroom’s
expectancy theory in order to identify the behavior, attitude of employees. Theory is helping the
enterprise to measure the performance of employees on the basis of individual factors such as
knowledge, abilities and personality.
Expectancy- it is based on the idea in which increasing the amount of efforts and support
to increase the performance of employees in the modern workplace.
Instrumentality- this idea that if it can perform better way and then generating accurate
result or outcome. In context of modern workplace, Each and every employees have established
a relationship between performance and outcome (Chopra, 2019). It turn in the individual who
will take an important decisions, who get a proper organizational result or outcome.
Valence- it is mainly perceived a value of staff members in the modern workplace which
means that put more efforts to generate better result. For consideration of valence, an employee
must prefer to attain the result but it is not attaining at all.
Vroom’s theory of expectation can be applied any situation in the modern workplace
where some people can achieve something because they can expect a certain kind of result or
outcome. In this way, it has been summarized about Vroom’s expectancy theory which help in
context of motivation. it would develop self-interest among staff members because of rewards,
awards.

CONCLUSION
From the above essay it is concluded that motivation is the important aspect with regard to
every organization. Motivation is the base that will assist an organization to direct its moves
towards the direction of its objectives. an implication of the motivation theory in the workplace
will enable an organization have better management of employee’s level of motivation and
raising of satisfaction so that with better moves and performance they could help the
organization to grab its objectives.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Badubi, R.M., 2017. Theories of motivation and their application in organizations: A risk
analysis. International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development. 3(3). pp.44-
51.
Chiat, L.C. and Panatik, S.A., 2019. Perceptions of employee turnover intention by Herzberg’s
motivation-hygiene theory: A systematic literature review. Journal of Research in
Psychology. 1(2). pp.10-15.
Chopra, K., 2019. Vroom’s expectancy theory to motivate academic library users in India using
grounded theory approach. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication.
Fallatah, R.H.M. and Syed, J., 2018. A critical review of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Employee
Motivation in Saudi Arabia, pp.19-59.
Hopper, E., 2020. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Explained. ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo. 24.
Pomerance, M.H., Converse, P.D. and Moon, N.A., 2020. Self-concept content and structure:
motivation and performance implications. Personnel Review.
SAMBHAV, V., 2020. Employee motivation: An imperative for organizational performance.
Stewart, C., Nodoushani, O. and Stumpf, J., 2018, July. Cultivating employees using Maslow's
hierarchy of needs. In Competition Forum (Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 67-75). American
Society for Competitiveness.
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