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Do workers enjoy their jobs?
Photograph: CIMA
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3. Herzberg's two factor theory focused on factors
that motivated and demotivated people at work.
Factors that motivated people ("motivators") included
promotion, responsibility, the work itself, achievement and recognition. The
presence of these factors motivated individuals to work, according to Herzberg.
If these factors were absent workers would not be dissatisfied, but would lack
job satisfaction.
Factors that demotivated people ("hygiene factors")
included poor working conditions, company policies and administration,
supervision, poor relations with other employees, and low pay. The presence of these factors would not motivate workers instead they would demotivate.
4. The Human Relations School led by Elton Mayo was
a response to the scientific management approach of paying workers by results.
It was noticed that workers did not work to maximise their output, but they
limited their output in case management changed the piece rates. Workers
adjusted their behaviour to fit in with group norms. More important to workers than the rate of pay were other factors such as: informal organisations at work, management leadership styles and effective communications systems.
5. McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y stated that
managers' decisions to motivate workers were based on basic assumptions about
human behaviour.
Theory X managers believed that humans were motivated
mainly by money, the average person dislikes work and wants to avoid
responsibility, and workers must be directly controlled in order to make them
achieve a task.
Theory Y managers believed that workers seek self
actualisation and self fulfilment, the average person does not dislike work,
but can organise, control and direct themselves to meet business goals, they
are keen to accept responsibility, and aim to satisfy higher order needs at
work.
There are no absolutely correct answers in human resources
management. It depends on the individuals involved, their ages, their personal
life and dependents, their interests and so on. Managers have to use a range of
motivation theories to keep all their employees working towards achieving the
business' goals.
Consider how you would motivate the following workers if
you were their line managers:
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a group of part-time teenage workers, working four hour shifts at a fast food
restaurant
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a team of workers at a call centre with young families
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bus drivers
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a hotel manager
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a group of engineers, who all have children, but who know that some of them
must soon be made redundant in order for the business to survive
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a young trainee accountant
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