Question

Explain in-depth the different approaches to motivation in the workplace. Needs>Drives or Motives>Accomplishment of goals

Answer 1

There are broadly three approaches to the motivation at the workplace.

(a) Under traditional approach, it is assumed that every person works solely for economic gains and pay is the only motivation for a worker, and even the most difficult tasks can be accomplished if the person doing them is paid sufficiently for his /her work. Other motivating factors like nature of the job, satisfaction from the job and work life balance have no significance acording to this theory.

(b) Under Human relations approach, it is assumed that every job has social interaction part associated with it. The employee motivation also depends on how important an employee feel of himself /herself in the company, how much he /she is involved in the process of decision making and how his /her efforts are acknowledged at the workplace by the employer. The sense of association with co workers as well as with the job itself creates belongingness for the company in the employee's mind, and he /she might be willing to go extra mile in reciprocation with the company's efforts towards him /her.

(c) Under self actualisation approach, the employee is motivated when he /she feels good about his /her work, his/her social status in the company, his /her sense of gratification from the role and inner fulfilment. This approach can be used to create conducive work environment for employees so that they can perfrom at their highest levels.

(d) Under unique needs approach, each person has his /her own set of motivators. While some are motivated by acknowledgement, some by verbal appreciation, and some by promotion or a pay hike, some others are motivated by alwys being in limelight. acording to this theory, the motivators differ case to case.