Comparison of motivational theories on improving employee performance

Motivation is created desire in employees to achieve organizational goals. According to the Robert Dubbin, (2006), motivation is the composite set of forces starting and keeping a person at work in an organization and something that moves the person to action, and continues in the course of action already begun.

Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory

In 1954 Abraham Maslow was introduced a theory called Maslow’s hierarchy of theory. The theory was introduced as a pyramid with five stages as below,

Figure 1: Maslow's Hierarchy of Need theory

Source: (Management Study Guide, 2019)

Basic needs - Companies been given a chance to their employees for low interest rate housing loans to fulfill their one of basic human requirement of shelter, organized training programs to their employees to reduce their psychological pressure and provided a good working environment to fulfill employees’ basic needs.

Safety needs - Safety working environment helps to fulfill the second stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of need to employees. Companies should be provided safety transport services to their employees to fulfill their safety need.

Love and belonging need - Companies are provided medical claim service to their employees to fulfill this need and given a life insurance for their employees. For an example, when one of employee in production department enter the marriage life Ruhunu products pvt ltd is given 25, 000 as a gift.

Self-esteem need -  It is represented the highest level of psychological development. Training and development improve the self-esteem of employees. Companies are organized reward ceremony to evaluate the achievements of their employees and made a pleasant working place. Dialog Axiata has been changed their engineering office architecture according to modern techniques to feel as unique place for them and relax their mind as well.

Self-actualization need - For higher studies HNB provides interest free loans to the staff members and also if employees have been paid by their own cash, they can reimburse it from the bank.

 Herzberg’s two factor theory

One of important motivational theory, two factor theory was developed by the Fredrick Herzberg.

Figure 2: Herzberg's two factor theory

Source: (Toolshero, 2019)

The two-factor theory (Hygiene factors and Motivators) have been applied by companies to increase employee performance as below,

Hygiene factors

Mainly the company should be certified job security of the employees. It is impact to trust them self and work hard to achieve organizational goals. Organizational culture should be more attractive for the employees. It should be contained fulfill basic needs of the employees, relationships, safety and team spirit. Because in most of the companies’ organizational culture has been become main demotivation factor and has been directly impact to decreasing employee performance. Companies are paid salaries, bonuses and overtime payments on time to their employees. With the bureaucratic leadership style CEAT Kelani has been made organizational policies to friendly to the employees.

Motivators

Company should be appreciated every step of the employee to achieve company targets. It is getting as an inspiration and become motivate trough it by employees. It is directly impact for enhancing employee performance because they are started to work more for their reward or promotion. Companies are given promotion opportunities, opportunities for personal growth, recognitions, responsibilities and achievements to build employees job satisfaction. But the companies should be treated for the employees as same.  It is easy to increase performance of the employees through motivation.

The managements of companies are being expected to enhance the employees’ motivation.

The theory of equality suggests that people will change the amount of effort have to achieve in relation to their own perceptions of others. If company is done the same thing, but much less effort is being made, these theories are suggested that the scale of the work has been brought to a high level. Herzberg theory do not allow the same degree of individual individuality between the people. Individual perceptions and thus personal stories are taken into account. The companies should be investigating the employees effectively otherwise employees can be demotivated and deceased employee performances. Herzberg’s two factor theory is an effective theory to apply for companies but its motivated employees only watching their outside. The management of the company is less concerned about the basic needs of employees. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory is the most appropriate theory which can be applied for a company to motivate their employees for increase employee performance.

References

Management Study Guide, 2019. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory. [Online]
Available at: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/maslows-hierarchy-needs-theory.htm
[Accessed 29 November 2019].

Toolshero, 2019. Two Factor Theory by Frederick Herzberg. [Online]
Available at: https://www.toolshero.com/psychology/theories-of-motivation/two-factor-theory-herzberg/
[Accessed 29 November 2019].

Smith, A.M., Hudson-Edwards, K.A., Dubbin, W.E. and Wright, K., 2006. Dissolution of jarosite [KFe3 (SO4) 2 (OH) 6] at pH 2 and 8: Insights from batch experiments and computational modelling. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70(3), pp.608-621.