- 2066 Magh (old course) · 8 marks
Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory
Short answer
Motivation is the inner force driving a person to act and put in effort to achieve goals. Maslow's hierarchy has five needs, physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualisation, and a satisfied need no longer motivates. Herzberg distinguishes hygiene factors that prevent dissatisfaction from motivators that provide real motivation.
What is motivation? Explain the concept of motivation using Maslow's need hierarchy and Herzberg's two factor theories.
Motivation is the inner force that drives a person to act and to put in effort to achieve goals. Managers motivate workers by fulfilling their needs so that they work willingly.
Maslow's need hierarchy (1943)
Abraham Maslow proposed that human needs are arranged in five levels; a lower need must be satisfied before the next becomes strong. A satisfied need no longer motivates.
/\
/5 \ Self-actualisation
/----\
/ 4 \ Esteem
/--------\
/ 3 \ Social
/------------\
/ 2 \ Safety
/----------------\
| 1 Physiological|
| Level | Need | In construction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physiological: food, water, shelter | Wages, drinking water, camp |
| 2 | Safety: security, health, job security | Safety gear, insurance, permanent job |
| 3 | Social: belonging, friendship | Team spirit, good relation with the supervisor |
| 4 | Esteem: respect, status, recognition | Awards, titles, praise |
| 5 | Self-actualisation: growth, achievement | Challenging work, training, promotion |
Herzberg's two-factor theory (1959)
Herzberg found that factors causing satisfaction (motivators: achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement) differ from those that prevent dissatisfaction (hygiene factors: salary, supervision, company policy, working conditions, job security, relations).
- Hygiene factors only prevent dissatisfaction; they do not motivate.
- Motivators give real motivation.
Comparison
Maslow's lower-level needs (levels 1–3) roughly match Herzberg's hygiene factors, and upper-level needs (levels 4–5) match the motivators. A manager should first provide proper hygiene factors (fair wages, safe conditions) and then use motivators (recognition, responsibility, growth).
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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