Question

1. Survey current business journals, and prepare a report on the motivational problems and approaches discussed in these journals. Do the same problems keep cropping up in different industries? Are organizations addressing employee needs that would not have been taken seriously five or ten years ago? What seem to be the major concerns organizations have about motivating their managers and staff? Be sure to cite your sources in text and with a work cited list.

Answer 1

Motivational problems and approaches discussed in these journals

Organizations irrespective of its size and type on industry, try to create the positive and long-term relationships with their employees. Employees on the other hand, have personal interest and competing needs that are somehow driven by the different motivators. Some employees motivated via financial rewards while some other wants and seeks job security or some seeks job promotion.

Therefore, to predict and understand what motivate your employees, you need to spend some time for employees and understand their expectations to receive the maximum productivity and performance.

Traditional theories on motivation focus on few items that may motivate the employees. Like Motives and needs theory states the five needs that an employee may have Physiological, social, Ego, self-satisfaction and safety/security. While other Equity and justice theory concerns on equity among the employees.

However, the current theories tried to revolutionize the traditional theories and takes in to account neuroscience, bio and psychology and human behaviour. Human nature is the key ingredient to decide the approach for motivating an employee. They insist that human tendency has four drives that are Drive to bond, acquire, defend and comprehend which leads to motivation. Now if discuss each Drive, Drive to acquire fulfil by adequate rewards, Drive to defend fulfil by management policies for performance and resource allocation, Drive to bond fulfil by Organization positive culture, and Drive to Comprehend fulfil by the Jobs allocated and designed.

Do the same problems keep cropping up in different industries

Yes, employee motivation is the subjective thing as read above and can be different or same more or less in different industry as it is all about the employees and the people who are same in every industry and human behaviour have to be read and understand in their respective way.

Are organizations addressing employee needs that would not have been taken seriously five or ten years ago?

Now the employers become more concerned about their employees needs as the management has enough sources and examples wherein it is proved that for the success of any firm, employees play an important role. They are the assets of the Company and Organization performance and profitability depends on Employee satisfaction and motivation for quality productivity and performance. If they won’t work well out of their own heart put efforts, the performance can be effective but not efficient. Therefore, employee’s motivation is very crucial for an Organization.

Now there are certain changes in approach of an Organization towards the employees like now the management employee the Manager having the leadership skill who promotes the Open communication culture and involve the employees in decision making process having impact on them which was not there 10 years down the line where hierarchy was important. Continuous training and skill improvements programmes have been conducted in many organizations for upgrading the employees with new technological changes and new of ways of working. Employees are being offered handsome salaries package suiting their qualifications and experience. Also, incentives on extra performance efforts taken by them.

What seem to be the major concerns organizations have about motivating their managers and staff   

If the employees are not fully engaged, their productivity will not to be up to the mark and therefore reduce chances for attaining Organizational Objective. If the employee is demotivated, he will not put his efforts, loose interest and loyalty towards the company. Employees will soon start withdrawing their employment and start quitting job. There will be lack of ethics and moral of the employees ultimately effecting the Organizational culture and structure.

Therefore, balancing Managers and employees both are crucial for an Organization. If the managers are motivated, they will use their interpersonal skills and leadership skills to keep the environment calm and full of enthusiasm among employees and motivate them. And if the employees are motivated, they will put their efforts towards organizational object.