--- title: "Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy" subject: "Organization and Management" chapter: 8 key: "semester_7/organization_and_management:maslow-hierarchy" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/maslow-hierarchy site: BCT Engineering --- # Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy Organization and Management · Chapter 8: Motivation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship - Asked in: 2074 Asoj, 3+5 marks; 2070 Chaitra, 3+5 marks; year not given (asked 2 times) - Video: [Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs EXPLAINED](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgrfpK2TpuY) — Leaders Talk - ThinkEduca - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/maslow-hierarchy - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/organization_and_management/chapter-8 ## Question Define motivation (human needs) and explain Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory in detail. ## Short answer Motivation is the inner drive to satisfy needs; unsatisfied needs motivate. Maslow's hierarchy arranges needs into five levels: physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Lower needs must be satisfied before higher ones become motivating. For managers, identify the dominant need and provide appropriate rewards. ## Answer #### 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. ```text /\ /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. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. According to Maslow, what happens when a need is satisfied? A. It becomes stronger B. It stops motivating and the next higher need arises C. It disappears forever with no next need D. The person returns to the lowest need Answer: B. A satisfied need no longer motivates, and the next higher need arises. (Key point: Core principle) 2. Which is the correct order from lowest to highest? A. Safety, physiological, social, esteem, self-actualization B. Physiological, social, safety, esteem, self-actualization C. Physiological, safety, esteem, social, self-actualization D. Physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization Answer: D. The order is physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization. (Key point: Order of needs) 3. Which reward best suits an employee whose dominant need is esteem? A. Canteen food B. Provident fund C. Awards and promotion D. Job security Answer: C. Esteem needs are met by recognition, status, awards and promotions. (Key point: Application) 4. Which is a criticism of Maslow's theory? A. It has only three levels B. Order of needs may differ between individuals and cultures C. It ignores needs completely D. It is supported by strong empirical proof of a strict hierarchy Answer: B. The order may vary, needs overlap and there is little empirical support for a strict hierarchy. (Key point: Criticism) ## Related in Organization and Management - [Maslow's theory and Laxmi Prasad Devkota](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-devkota) — Organization and Management, chapter 8 - [Maslow's hierarchy vs Alderfer's ERG](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-alderfer-erg) — Organization and Management, chapter 8 - [Human need and Herzberg's hygiene theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aherzberg-human-need) — Organization and Management, chapter 8, asked 2× - [Motivation and Herzberg's hygiene theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aherzberg-hygiene) — Organization and Management, chapter 8 - [Management's role in motivation; McGregor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amcgregor-role-management) — Organization and Management, chapter 8 ## Related in other subjects - [Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-maslow-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10 - [Energy needs in Maslow's hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Amaslow-energy-needs) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Maslow's hierarchy of needs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Amaslow-hierarchy-describe) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Short note: Maslow's theory of motivation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaslow-theory-note) — Construction Management, chapter 10