Motivational Theory

Running Head: Motivational Theory

Motivational Theory

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Jeffrey Segal

Instructor: Dana Boyd

10/22/2012

According to the dictionary motivation is primarily a set of patterns that determine and justify a decision and act. However, what are the main drivers of motivation? One often hears of motivation at work, but what is it exactly? Motivation is what will push a person to take action in order to perform, what they can to their full potential. In simplest form, motivation is what makes a person takes action to get things done. According to Maslow, are five specific levels of motivation in the form of a pyramid, which drive the human race to act to satisfy their needs? Maslow identified five general categories of needs: physiological need, safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization (Youssef and Noon 2012). This theory considers that the humans go to a need for higher order when the need is with the level immediately below.

Physiological needs are needs that related directly to the existence of individuals or species. Thirst, sex and hunger are some of these practical needs. The need for security is to protect against various dangers that threaten us. The need to belong reveals the social dimension of the individual who needs to feel acknowledged by the group in which he lives (family, work, association). As Human, we have needs for self-esteem, desire for peer recognition. It is at this point that one seeks to occupy a specific function within its group membership in order to be noticed, estimated, valued, stand out from the others. Self-actualization refers to the need for one to accomplish all their potential.

A motivated staff is a crucial quality for any organization. Motivation of staff should be one of the major objectives of human resource management in any company. Two major theories that explain motivation in the workplace are the theory of goal setting and equity theory.

Goal setting states that an individual is when he or she sets clear objectives and receive appropriate feedback on their ability. Most individuals are motivated by the by the pursuit of self-fulfillment. Achieving a goal is a major source of motivation for most people. Goal setting improves individual performances as well as group performances. The objectives must be clear and measurable (i.e. 10% growth to less than 2% error). The goal should be a challenge, a form of difficulty; so that the individual anticipates a sense of accomplishment once, the achievement of the goal is (Diefendorff and Mehta 2007). Motivation is when the individual understands