Theories of Motivation Essay -- Management Employee Motivation

Theories of Motivation According to Greenberg (1999) motivation is defined "as a process of arousing, directing and maintaining behaviour towards a goal." Where ‘directing' refers to the selection of a particular behaviour; and ‘maintenance' refers to the inclination to behave with consistency in that manner until the desired outcome is met. Motivation is therefore the force that transforms and uplifts people to be productive and perform in their jobs. Maximising an employee's motivation is necessary and vital to successfully accomplish the organisation's objectives and targets. However this is a considerable challenge to any organisation's managers, due to the complexity of motivation and the fact that there is no ready made solution or an answer to what motivates people to work well (Mullins, 2002). It is my intention in this essay to explore some issues around motivation and cite work based experiences to illustrate and substantiate any arguments or points of view. Main Body Mullins (2002) classifies motivation into Intrinsic and Extrinsic types. Intrinsic motivation involves psychological rewards to enhance job satisfaction, such as the opportunity to use one's ability, a sense of achievement, receiving appreciation and positive recognition or being treated in a considerate manner (Mullins, 2002:P490). Such methods ensure employees are constantly motivated while being engaged in activities that are enjoyable and rewarding. I was formerly employed by a supplier of automobile parts where in addition to using compensation as a means of motivation; they too were dedicated in ensuring their employees had maximum job satisfaction. This was achieved by giving autonomy in their job functions and assigning significa... ...its employees. In today's complex business environment; traditional approaches like monetary incentives are not the only prime motivators. In addition to expecting financial incentives for their performance, employee's expectations are much more. Appreciation, recognition and opportunities for personal growth; must be catered for to harness maximum productivity. Furthermore in an era where change is imperative for the organisation's survival, highly motivated employees, represent flexibility and show willing to change; a vital component for the success of any organisation. References Greenberg, J. (1999) Managing behaviour in organisations, Prentice Hall. Mullins, L (2002) Management and organisational behaviour, Prentice Hall FT Benabou, R. & Tirole, J. (2003) ‘Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation', The Review of Economic Studies, vol.70, pg.489-520.