Example Of Essay On Motivation Theories

In the field of business, keeping employees motivated is an essential part to the survival of a corporation due to employees serve as the life-blood of companies. Employees function a vital role in any business. In the field of Psychology, motivation is defined as the driving force that gives people reasons to do something. Motivation is the force that aids individuals towards realizing their goals, where people attempt to exert effort in order to reach their desired goal. In order to motivate people, there must be a connection between the job goal and the needs and interest of the employee. Employee needs may either be tangible or intangible depending on their motivational force. It is important in any business to keep their employees motivated because it spells out their attitude and performance at work.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of need is one of the well-known theories in motivation. The hierarchical pyramid of Maslow shows levels of need to start from the most basic which are the physiological needs to the most complex which is self-actualization. Under the principle of the theory, every time a person fulfills one level in the pyramid he or she moves up and does not go back to the previous level. This concept provides an implication that in order to keep people motivated; employers must be able to innovate their motivational schemes because the needs of their employees change as time progresses. The content of the pyramid is divided into two categories the lower half being extrinsic motivation and the upper half being the intrinsic motivation. Hertzberg contributed to Maslow’s theory by claiming that the greatest motivating forces were the needs for achievement, recognition, achievement, responsibility and work.
Employees in an organization may appear unmotivated and have no will to perform their task, and in order to motivate them the employers must devise a reward and punishment scheme. On the other hand, there are employees who enjoy giving their effort in their work. Motivation theories constitute to the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Under extrinsic motivation, also known as outside motivation, is characterized when people function in order to arrive at an outcome. Common examples of extrinsic motivations include rewards, such as bonuses and promotions. While intrinsic motivation refers to a person’s innate will to function at his or her best without expecting any form of compensation. In 1979, Perez Lopez made use of the same principle of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation but adding another category that is transcendental, or when a person is motivated by the effects of one’s action towards other people, one good application is an employee aiding his or her co-worker to increase job performance.
In can be observed, from most of the theories of motivation mentioned and discussed are grounded into two categories- internal and external motivating factors. External motivation may connote the monetary compensation of employee performance while internal motivation refers to the self-fulfillment felt by people every time they do their work well. The motivation theories provide employers with possible ideas to motivate their employees to increase efficiency and performances. It is difficult to determine that motivates people, because people are motivated differently, similar to how the fifty-fifty rule puts it; some people are motivated by achievement while other are motivated by material rewards.