---
title: "Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_8/construction_management:motivation-maslow-herzberg"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/motivation-maslow-herzberg
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory

Construction Management · Chapter 10: Personnel Management

- Asked in: 2066 Magh (old course), 8 marks
- Video: [Theories of motivation - Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_LBx3t6pA) — EasyMBA
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/motivation-maslow-herzberg
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-10

## Question

What is motivation? Explain the concept of motivation using Maslow's need hierarchy and Herzberg's two factor theories.

## 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.

## Answer

**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.

```text
        /\
       /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).

## Check yourself

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

1. Motivation is:
   A. A company rule
   B. Penalty for poor work
   C. The inner force that drives a person to act and make effort toward goals
   D. A fixed wage
   Answer: C. Motivation is the inner force driving a person to act to achieve goals. (Key point: Definition)

2. According to Maslow, which statement is correct?
   A. A lower need must be satisfied before the next becomes strong; a satisfied need no longer motivates
   B. Only money motivates
   C. All needs are active at the same time
   D. Higher needs are satisfied first
   Answer: A. Needs are in five levels; the lowest unsatisfied need dominates. (Key point: Maslow order)

3. In Herzberg's theory, hygiene factors such as salary and working conditions:
   A. Only prevent dissatisfaction and do not motivate
   B. Cause dissatisfaction when present
   C. Are the same as motivators
   D. Give real motivation
   Answer: A. Hygiene factors prevent dissatisfaction; only motivators motivate. (Key point: Hygiene factors)

4. How do Maslow's levels match Herzberg's factors?
   A. Levels 1-3 match hygiene factors; levels 4-5 match motivators
   B. Levels 1-3 match motivators; 4-5 match hygiene
   C. All levels match hygiene factors
   D. They do not relate at all
   Answer: A. Lower needs correspond to hygiene factors, upper needs to motivators. (Key point: Comparison)

## Related in Construction Management

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

## 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×
- [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
- [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×
- [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