Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy

Motivation (human needs)

Motivation is the inner drive that moves a person to act so as to satisfy needs. A need is a lack of something that creates tension and pushes the person towards action. Unsatisfied needs motivate; satisfied needs do not.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory

Abraham Maslow (1943) proposed that human needs are arranged in five levels. A person satisfies lower needs first; once a need is satisfied it stops motivating, and the next higher need arises.

        /\
       /5 \   Self-actualization
      /----\
     / 4    \  Esteem
    /--------\
   /  3       \ Social (belonging)
  /------------\
 /   2          \ Safety/Security
/----------------\
|  1 Physiological |

1. Physiological needs: Food, water, shelter, clothing, rest. Employer provides adequate wage, canteen.
2. Safety and security needs: Job security, safe workplace, health and retirement benefits (provident fund, SSF).
3. Social (belonging) needs: Friendship, love, acceptance. Teamwork, group activities.
4. Esteem needs: Respect, status, recognition and achievement. Titles, awards, promotions.
5. Self-actualization needs: Realising one's full potential, creativity and growth. Challenging tasks, learning opportunities.

Implications for managers

• Identify the dominant need of each employee.
• Provide pay and security for lower-level workers, recognition and growth for higher-level staff.

Criticism

• Order of needs may differ between individuals and cultures (an artist may give up food for work).
• Hard to measure; needs may overlap.
• Little empirical support for a strict hierarchy.

Despite criticism, it is the most popular need theory and is widely used for planning rewards.