Motivational Theories for Tesco's New Store: Case Study Report

This report, prepared for Tesco's new store, examines the application of motivational theories to enhance employee performance and organizational success. The introduction defines motivation and its significance, followed by an overview of key motivational theories, including Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory and Reinforcement Theory. The report delves into the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, providing practical insights for implementation within Tesco's new store, referred to as the 'Jack' store. Maslow's theory is analyzed in detail, outlining how the store can address employees' physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization needs. The Reinforcement Theory is also discussed, with a focus on positive and negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction strategies. The report concludes with a recommendation to utilize Maslow's hierarchy for its ease of use and positive impact, alongside the reinforcement theory to manage customer interactions. The report references various books and journals to support its analysis, offering a comprehensive understanding of motivational strategies in a retail environment. This is a solved assignment available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-powered study tools.

Task 3 – Case Study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Motivation...................................................................................................................................1
Motivational theories..................................................................................................................1
Maslow's Need hierarchy theory.................................................................................................1
Reinforcement theory..................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Motivation is an impulsive force which drives and stimulates individuals to sustain &
initiate their behaviour. It can also be defined as a psychological, social and biological state
which leads an individual towards particular action (Herzberg, 2017). Being an HR assistant of
Tesco, for their new store, it will be going to suggest them motivational theory by which they
can gain success and compete with Lidl and Aldi. This assignment is based on motivational
theories, their strengths and weaknesses.
Motivation
Motivation is derivable from Latin word 'movere' which means to move. It refers to force
which acts upon individual by which they are directed for attainment of their own goals.
Basically it defines ways through which human behaviour can be activated. It makes people to
act on their own desires. Without motivation individuals will not be able to overcome their
challenges but when they are motivated then they will be able to attain them effectively. Like
major motivational force behind an individual is their basic needs of food, clothes, shelter and
security. For this they work hard so that they can fulfil them (Lepper and Greene, 2015).
Motivational theories
Motivational theory is defined as a task for identifying what will drive individual towards
their goal. Tesco must focus on motivational theory so that they can motivate their employees by
which they will become more productive and will lead to economic use of resources. There are
different theories but Tesco for their new Jack store can opt for Maslow's need hierarchy and
Reinforcement theory. These are shown below:
Herzberg theory
This theory is defines as two factor theory of motivation in which each factor assist in
preventing dissatisfaction of employees by motivating them on the basis of different factors.
Herzberg classified these job factors into two categories as:
 Hygiene factor: These are the essential job factors that requires to maintain for the
existence of motivation at workplace. Hygiene factors do not lead positive satisfaction in
employees for a long term but these needs to be exist positively in the business as:
◦ Pay – In an organisation, it is required to keep pay or salary structure appropriate in
order to provide appropriate satisfaction to employees.
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◦ Job security: For employees it is required to have job security that assist them in
providing a desired satisfaction in their job.
 Motivational factor: These kind of factors play a important role for an employee by
motivating them for a superior performance. Such factors are symbolized psychological
needs that were denoting additional benefits to worker as:
◦ Responsibility: In an organisation, it is a responsibility of senior employees to
provide responsibility to workers. Through this, employees hold themselves
responsible towards their work.
◦ Recognition: in the working duration of employees, each individual wants to be
praised and recognised on the basis of their working skills and abilities.
Maslow's Need hierarchy theory
This theory is proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. As per him, people are motivated
for attaining certain needs and out of them some needs take precedence over others. This theory
comprises of
Physiological needs: These needs refer to basic requirements of human which comprises
of water, shelter, clothing, food and essential necessities of life. As per Maslow once these needs
are met then they will be no longer able to motivate humans. In this case Jack store can provide
their employees with basic salary by which they can accomplish their needs (Miner, 2015).
Safety needs: After accomplishment of physiological needs, next is security and safety
needs. This includes security from physical dangers as well as economic security. They become
inactive when they are accomplished. Jack store can provide their employees with job secuirty,
work safety and health insurance (Peters, 2015).
Belongingness: Man is a social being and they need to have companionship, interaction,
etc. For this Jack store can have teams by which individuals can work within a team by this their
efficiency can be improved.
Esteem: This includes self-respect, self esteem, knowledge, confidence, independence
and achievement. After fulfilment of these needs, it will lead to strength, self confidence as well
as capability of being valued within organisation. Jack store can make recognition of employees
who works in effectual manner and assign them responsibilities on the basis of their capabilities.
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Self-actualization: This indicates accumulation of higher, intermediate and lower needs
of human beings. Basically it is a desire to acquire everything which is possible. In this Jack
store can provide their customer with growth, advancement and training.
Advantages of Need hierarchy Maslow' Theory:
 They have natural appeal and can be easily implemented as well as executed by Jack
store in an uncomplicated way (Herzberg, 2017).
 This will assist Jack store to consider both intra-personal as well as inter-personal
alterations in behaviour of human.
Disadvantages of Need hierarchy Maslow' Theory:
 Every individual do not posses same thinking like for some self esteem can be of priority
rather than sense of belongingness.
 Satisfaction and needs are physiological needs and sometimes there is a probability that
individual may not be clear about their requirements. Then how it is possible for
management to know and acknowledge employees need.
Reinforcement theory
It states that being an employer, impact can be created on behaviour of employees by
punishment, reinforcement or extinction. For encouraging behaviour of employees rewards can
be given to employees and they can be punished if they do not behave in appropriate manner
(Pinder, 2014). Jack store can make use of this theory so that they can motivate their employees
by giving them reward for their behaviour with customers and punish those who do not possess
effective behaviour.
Positive: It implies affirmative response when humans behave in desired manner. Like
praising employees when they do their job in effective manner and are able to sell their services
thereby creating a positive impact on Jack store. At this moment of time team leader should
appreciate their effort for their outstanding behaviour (Reeve, 2014).
Negative: It motivate employees for behaving in well mannered way so that negative
implications do not occur. Consider an example in this aspect, like employee of Jack store is not
meeting the deadline. Then management can opt for reviewing their daily performance by which
they can ensure that deadline is met.
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Punishment: It is like negative consequence is imposed for reducing or decreasing
unwanted behaviour of employees within workplace. Like Jack store can give warning to
employee who comes late at workplace . This is a punishment which is being given to employee.
Extinction: In this, Jack store will focus on ending behaviour of employees which they
have learnt within a given time. In this case management of Jack store can give their employees
overtime pay for inspiring employees to work extra.
Advantages of Reinforcement theory:
 Employees who have self efficacy will be able to face any kind of challenges but they
will not give up. In this focus is on multidimensional reason and not just on single aspect.
 By this management of Jack store can understand motivate as well as analyse
performance of employees in different tasks and situations.
Disadvantages of Reinforcement theory:
 Tangible and verbal rewards will lead to both affirmative and negative impact on self
efficacy which depends on environment and context in which reward is being given.
 High self-efficacy will lead an individual to apply less effort on specific task as it can
make employee overconfident which will create false sense of ability (Ryan and Deci,
2017).
CONCLUSION
From above it can be concluded that, by making use of motivational theories Jack store
can set their own guidelines. It is recommended that they must opt Maslow's hierarchy of needs
theory as it is easy to use and will create positive impact on performance of employees.
Furthermore, reinforcement theory can be used as, Jack store deals with different number
customers everyday so it is essential that employees must behave in effective manner by which
they can influence customers to opt for their services.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Herzberg, F., 2017. Motivation to work. Routledge.
Lepper, M. R. and Greene, D. eds., 2015. The hidden costs of reward: New perspectives on the
psychology of human motivation. Psychology Press.
Miner, J. B., 2015. Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and leadership.
Routledge.
Peters, R. S., 2015. The concept of motivation. Routledge.
Pinder, C. C., 2014. Work motivation in organizational behavior. Psychology Press.
Reeve, J., 2014. Understanding motivation and emotion. John Wiley & Sons.
Ryan, R. M. and Deci, E. L., 2017. Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in
motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Publications.
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