Employee Motivation
Author: John Warren
Data analysis:
Introduction:
Employee motivation is an important concept in an organisation, when workers are motivated in an organisation their productivity rises
and therefore the organisation realises various advantages associated with the rise in labour productivity. There exist various theories
that explain employee motivation which include theories by Sigmund Freud, Douglas McGregor and Abraham Maslow.
Sigmund Freud formulated a theory that stated that people were lazy at work and that workers are very far from becoming optimistic, the
workers have no ambition and they always avoid taking any responsibility and that all the workers want is security. Based on this
assumption Freud stated that to get the people to work there must a reward system, they must be coerced, punished and intimidated.
For this reason therefore the managers in any organisation according to this theory are viewed as taking the responsibility of policing
workers who refuse to work and that they cannot be trusted. However his theory was based on some unrealistic assumptions.
Douglas McGregor also formulated a theory that explains employee motivation, according to his theory people always want to learn, and
that work is viewed as natural and therefore the people will develop self development and discipline, this theory also states that rewards
to employees is not so much in monetary form but the freedom to undertake difficult tasks and challenging tasks all by themselves.
Therefore the manager's job in this theory is only a way to lead workers into self development and also achieve efficiency in the
organisation, the managers work is viewed as soft and simple.
Abraham Maslow theory of need also in a way describes employee motivation. He formulated the theory of needs whereby he states that
human beings have a hierarchy of needs whereby they first satisfy lower needs before satisfying the higher needs, human needs include
physiological, emotional support needs, esteem need and the need for self actua