Question

Describe the connection between work motivation, the hierarchy of needs theory and job enlargement? (Preference essay)

Answer 1

Work motivation is a force which brings productivity, contribution and dedication among employees. It depends upon various institutional, personal, psychological, and social needs. Every top notch companies like Google, IBM, Microsoft, TATA, Sony , Toyota and many others are trying to provide a healthy , sound and motivated workplace to its most valuable resources i. e. human resources.

According to the motivation theory proposed by Abraham Maslow, We can divide human /employees needs into five needs in the given order from basic to top as follows:

1) Physiological needs (Food, shelter etc)

For employees it may be salary, canteen etc.

2) Safety needs (Income source, protection to the life like home for safety needs, Gun etc.)

For employees, it will be job security, less hazardous workplace etc.

3) Social needs (Status, family, cooperation, etc.)

For employees, Good peers, boss, management attitude, etc.

4) Esteem needs (respect in the society, better self esteem, recognition by the social members)

For employees, better job titles, reward, work recognition etc.)

5) Self- Actualization (Highest level of need, people seek peaceful nature, leadership, and no influence from the rest of the needs)

For employees greater work autonomy, ethical considerations, don’t care about small loss to their own pay or perk for organizational growth and development, CEO like roles etc.

According to Maslow, 1, 2, 3 are lower order needs and 4 and 5 are higher order needs. A person seeks to next level of needs once he gets satisfied to his preceding needs.

An organization can adopt this theory to design its employee’s retention, motivation and compensation policies. It will provide employees growth and development. Organization will get higher performing work force with innovation and upbringings by the employees. It can be utilized to devise a motivated team of management.

Job enlargement means adding extra responsibilities and duties to an existing job position. If, it will not design properly them employees will be demotivated. As a result, organization will lose potential employee who might change the future of the organization. Job enlargement mainly done to motivate the employees by providing them more opportunities to work and show their talent but it must be devised with some extra pay , sufficient guidance and training to the employees. According to Herzberg, the process of Job enlargement can be said as Adding one zero to another zero. It has significance that ultimately it does not benefit the employees as he might forget his original duties to perform.