Different Motivation Theories Used by Businesses

Different Motivation Theories Used by Businesses

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There are many different motivation theories used by businesses, some of the most used and well known ones are:

McGregor
McGregor has got two theories about different types of workers on opposite ends of the spectrum. Theory X is the kind of employee who doesn’t like work and tries to avoid it where possible, have high absenteeism, and have no motivation and lack responsibility. Theory Y is the kind of employee that enjoys work and finds it satisfying, rewarding and seeks responsibility.
The problems with McGregor’s theory are that is it two ends of the spectrum and most employees and managers fall in between these two categories. The average person is not motivated all day every day and even unmotivated people will have a productive day. This theory is not used as much as other theories when businesses are trying to base the way they operate around a theory but it is used in the field of management and motivation.

Hertzberg
Hertzberg created a theory based on two factors (also known as motivation-hygiene theory); these factors are the things that satisfy and dissatisfy an employee within the workplace. Hertzberg found things such as work conditions, salary, and relationship with their boss and company policy to be things that dissatisfied employees; these are the hygiene factors. Factors that were recorded to satisfy employees were things such as achievement, recognition and responsibility; these are the motivational factors. Hertzberg realised that hygiene needs have to be met to ensure that the employee is not dissatisfied and then the motivation factors are needed to motivate an employee to a higher level to perform well. Hertzberg then classified acts of an employee, e.g. if an employee does something they have to, it’s called a movement, but if they do it because they choose to then it’s classed as motivation.

Maslow
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the most famous theories out of all of them. It is the one most referred to as it seems...

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