Question

When has your level of performance been directly affected by your motivation? By your ability? By the environment?

Identify examples from your own experience that support, and others that refute, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.

Answer 1

Job role: Entrepreneur

Motivation and job performance are interrelated to each other. A highly motivated person has a high level of job performance. On applying the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory to the position of an entrepreneur, the physiological needs of food, water, air, cloth and shelter are required for survival and determine the performance level to a certain extent. An entrepreneur has to earn to survive and fulfil the basic physiological needs and this depends on the entrepreneur abilities. The impact of the physiological needs on the entrepreneur motivation is low as it is a basic requirement

Considering the security and safety needs, the entrepreneur needs a secure environment to carry out his business operations free from external threats. Economic security (individual ability) and physical security (external environment) are essential for the entrepreneur to grow the business. The impact of security and safety needs on entrepreneur motivation is medium as it involves a mix of ability and environment factors

The social needs involve the recognition of the entrepreneur in their field or industry through affiliation with fellow entrepreneurs and similar associations. This is environment driven need recognizing the abilities of the entrepreneur. The impact of the social needs on the entrepreneur motivation is high as the environment recognized the entrepreneur abilities and this drives the entrepreneur performance to the next level

Esteem needs are related to self-respect and self-esteem and are an indicator of achievement, self-confidence, self-control, knowledge, independence and competence. Entrepreneurs are highly driven by the esteem needs and the entrepreneur motivation is the highest in this domain. Entrepreneurs crave for esteem needs that provide them reputation, respect, independence and status in the society. These esteem needs are highly driven by the abilities of the entrepreneur and their performance level and satisfaction level are highest having high motivation levels

The final self-actualization need stage makes the entrepreneur do good to the society, community, nation and the world as a whole. Entrepreneurs reaching this stage aim to uplift the lives of millions across the globe. An entrepreneur becomes an inspiration and motivator for others in this stage. This stage is characterized or driven by both the abilities and the environment to make the entrepreneur a role model

Based on the above analysis, an entrepreneur is driven by social, esteem and self-actualization needs through the impact of their abilities and the environment. The motivation level of entrepreneurs in the above three need dimensions is high and directly impacts their performance to a great extent