Introduction
Motivation is the force that makes people to do things or the inspiration that makes people to complete certain tasks (Mortimer, 2007). There are several motivational strategies that a successful, cutting edge corporation like pets marts can apply to enhance organisational performance. These include rewarding employees with benefits, enactment of quality programs, giving employees managerial roles and the use of performance appraisals.
Pets Mart can use employee benefits as a motivational strategy to motivate its employees. Benefits are extrinsic rewards like health care, life insurance, subsidized meal plans, ownership of company’s shares and vehicles and availability of child care among others (Deci, 1985). If Pets Mart uses these and many other benefits, they can act as excellent incentives that will motivate the employees to work harder, impacting positively on organisational performance.
Quality programs
Pets Mart can motivate its employees by instituting programs that improve the quality of life of these employees. These programs include flexible work time schedules, job sharing, off days and de-condensed workweeks (Robbins, 2007). These programs can help the employees to focus on the tasks they need to do and concentrate less on the demands of their private lives.
Managerial Roles
To motivate its employees further, Pets Mart can give its employees some managerial roles and decision making authority (Weightman, 2008). This makes more responsible and also increases their control over the tasks they are meant to do, giving them the inspiration to carry out those tasks effectively. Giving employees managerial roles in a corporation diverts the energy used in self preservation to improved performance in accomplishment of tasks. Pets Mart should therefore ensure that employees gain more control over their areas of operation because this is one of the best motivational strategies.
Performance Appraisals
The other major motivational strategy that Pets Mart can use to motivate its employees is performance appraisal. Performance appraisal is the evaluation of the employee’s performance against some set objectives or goals. Goals motivate employees but they become more motivated when they get feedback about their progress (Kerr, 1997). Appraisal is the formal process that provides this feedback to the employees. Appraisals are very effective in solving performance problems especially for the underperforming employees and the absence of these problems acts as a motivator. It also gives more inspiration to performing employees who are motivated to achieve even higher goals (Steers, 2006).
Conclusion
The four aforementioned strategies can be employed by Pets Marts to motivate its employees and improve organisational performance. They are key to the corporate success that cutting edge corporations like Pets Mart are looking for.
References
Deci, E. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.
Kerr, S.(1997). Ultimate Rewards: What Really Motivates People to Achieve. Boston: Harvard Business School
Mortimer, H. (2007). Motivation: Theory and Research, New York: John Wiley & Sons
Robbins, S. (2007), Essentials of Organizational Behavior .NJ: Prentice Hall
Steers, R. (2006). Motivation and Leadership at Work. New York: McGraw-Hill
Weightman, J. (2008). The Employee Motivation Audit: Cambridge: Cambridge Strategy Publications
