---
title: "Short note: Maslow's theory of motivation"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_8/construction_management:maslow-theory-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/maslow-theory-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Maslow's theory of motivation

Construction Management · Chapter 10: Personnel Management

- Asked in: 2069 Bhadra (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [Why Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs Matters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0PKWTta7lU) — The School of Life
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/maslow-theory-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-10

## Question

Write a short note on Maslow's theory of motivation.

## Short answer

Maslow's 1943 theory states that human behaviour is driven by five ordered needs, physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualisation, with lower needs satisfied first. Only an unsatisfied need motivates, so managers identify the active need and offer matching incentives, although critics note the order is not rigid.

## Answer

**Maslow's theory of motivation** (A. H. Maslow, 1943) states that human behaviour is driven by a hierarchy of five needs. People satisfy lower needs first; only an **unsatisfied** need motivates, and once it is met the next higher need becomes dominant.

#### The five levels
1. **Physiological needs:** food, water, clothing, shelter, rest. In construction: adequate wages, drinking water, accommodation.
2. **Safety needs:** physical safety, job security, health. For example safety equipment, insurance, and regular employment.
3. **Social (belonging) needs:** friendship, acceptance, team membership. For example good team spirit and cordial supervisors.
4. **Esteem needs:** self-respect, recognition, status. For example praise, awards, designation.
5. **Self-actualisation:** fulfilling one's potential, creativity, growth. For example challenging tasks, training, promotion.

```text
   Self-actualisation
   Esteem
   Social
   Safety
   Physiological   <- start here
```

#### Use and criticism
Managers identify each worker's active need and offer incentives for that level. Criticism: needs do not always follow a rigid order, differ among cultures, and one action can satisfy several needs; but the theory remains a simple and widely used guide.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which is the correct order from bottom to top of Maslow's hierarchy?
   A. Physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualisation
   B. Physiological, social, safety, self-actualisation, esteem
   C. Safety, physiological, esteem, social, self-actualisation
   D. Social, safety, physiological, esteem, self-actualisation
   Answer: A. The order is physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualisation. (Key point: Hierarchy)

2. Which need motivates a person according to the theory?
   A. Only the safety need
   B. Any satisfied need
   C. Only the unsatisfied need
   D. Only the highest need
   Answer: C. Only an unsatisfied need motivates; when met, the next level becomes dominant. (Key point: Active need)

3. Safety equipment, insurance and regular employment satisfy which level?
   A. Self-actualisation
   B. Physiological
   C. Esteem
   D. Safety
   Answer: D. These are examples of safety needs. (Key point: Construction example)

4. Which is a criticism of Maslow's theory?
   A. It applies only to managers
   B. It has only three levels
   C. It ignores human needs
   D. Needs do not always follow a rigid order and differ among cultures
   Answer: D. Order is not rigid, varies by culture, and one action can satisfy several needs. (Key point: Criticism)

## Related in Construction Management

- [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
- [Motivation and Herzberg theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10, asked 4×

## Related in other subjects

- [Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-hierarchy) — Organization and Management, chapter 8, asked 2×
- [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
- [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
- [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