Motivational Theories

Motivational theory tells us about what factor or factors motive people. Different scientists gave their different
theories. Every theory has defect in it unfortunately these theories do not all reach the same conclusions.

Content Theories of Motivation

. These theories include;

Maslow Hierarchy of Needs

Herzberg Two Factor Theory
Alderfer ERG Needs

Maslow Hierarchy of Needs :According to Maslow there are five basic needs of a human which are Self Actualization needs, Esteem needs,
Love needs, Safety needs, and Physiological needs.
Physiological needs:
Physiological needs mean body needs which are food, sex, air etc. In organizations these needs are fulfilled by
good salary .Good salary or pay allows a person to buy its life essentials.
Safety needs:
Safety needs which are also known as security needs. It includes ones safety, security, protection, freedom
from fear, in an organization these needs can be full filled by insurance plans, pension plans. Safety need is
known as motivational need because saving ones own life from danger, difficulty is also known as motivation
for example if I throw a duster towards you will react abruptly to save yourself from being harmed.
Love needs:
Love needs are also known as belongingness needs. It involves emotionally based relationships like
friendships, accepted by ones peers. Friends also causes motivation they help you to get your destination. In
the same way family members also causes motivation for example your brother and sisters often motivate you
to do a difficult assignment that you are not willing to do.
Esteem needs:
Esteem needs refer to the need for respect and self-confidence. Without properly meeting esteem needs, we are
filled with feelings of and negativity .The meaning of esteem respect, value, regard. Everyone wanted to be

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respected, valued, and regarded by his friends, colleagues, juniors e.t.c. Through esteem needs your confidence
level increases.
Self-Actualization needs:
These needs met entirely from within individual.Self actualization is realizing ones one potential. Managers,
family members your friends can help you to realize your own potential. Famous poet Allama Iqbal also
emphasis to know yourself. He emphasis to know your self because by accomplishing self-actualization, you
are able to find meaning and purpose in your life and you are able to say you truly 'lived .

Herzbergs Two Factor theory Of Motivation

Fedrik Herzberg performed studies to determine which factors cause satisfaction and dissatisfaction to
employees. He developed his theory by interviewing two hundred accountants and engineers. He asked
them to tell him what factors cause you satisfaction and dissatisfaction .The reply was interesting. They
said that low pay is cause of dissatisfaction but would not necessarily mention high pay as cause of
satisfaction .To understand this take a example individually:
You will feel very happy when you eat costly food once in a month on contrary you will not feel much
happiness on eating costly food every day.
Different factors like recognition or accomplishment causes motivation and satisfaction.
Herzbergs interviews had identified two different dimensions one ranging from satisfaction to no
satisfaction and the other ranging from dissatisfaction to no dissatisfaction. Factors influencing
satisfaction are known as motivation factors while factors causing dissatisfaction are known as hygiene
factors.
Hygiene factors:
It includes:
Supervisors
Working condition
Pay and security
Managers must ensure that hygiene factors are not deficient. Pay and Security must be appropriate,
Working conditions must be safe, supervision must be acceptable.
By providing hygiene factors at an appropriate level managers can just ensure that employees are not
dissatisfied. Hygiene factors do not cause motivation.
Motivation factors:
It includes:

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Achievement
Recognition
The work itself
Achievement and growth
Responsibility

These factors motivate the employees for to give a good output. The employees should be recognized
for their accomplishments. The employees must have a sense of achievement. The employees must hold
themselves responsible for the work.

ALDERFERS ERG THEORY

ERG stands for existence, relatedness and growth. He condensed Maslow model into three levels. The three levels

are:

Existence needs: It includes Psychological and safety needs

Relatedness needs: It includes social and external esteem
Growth needs:It includes self-actualization and internal esteem

According to Alderfer more than one need can be activated at same time and if higher level needs remains
unfulfilled the person move towards lower level.

Process Theories of Motivation

There are several process theories of motivation. Form one of these theories I have chosen one which is PorterLawler Theory of Work Motivation.

Porter-Lawler Theory of Motivation:Porter and Lawler concluded that an individuals motivation to complete task is affected by reward they
expected to receive for completing the task and rewards are of two types one is intrinsic reward and other is
extrinsic reward.
Intrinsic Rewards:
Intrinsic rewards are the positive feelings that the individual experiences from completing the task e.g.
satisfaction, sense of achievement. These rewards are also known as psychological rewards. Lets take a example
In your third semester you got 4 cgp you neither get any bonus nor any scholarship but you feel sense of
achievement and satisfaction.
Extrinsic Rewards:Extrinsic rewards are outcomes set and are rewarded by external parties e.g. pay and promotions. These rewards
are also known as tangible or economic rewards.
He also said that High performance can lead to rewards and high satisfaction.
For example for your good performance in job your company give you bonus money as reward.
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Adams Equity theory

According to me the main idea of this theory is give efforts and take rewards or give input take out
put.Inputs are what we give or put into our work. Outputs are everything we take out in return. Inputs are
effort, loyalty, hard work, commitment, skill, ability, tolerance, trust in our boss etc. Outputs are financial
rewards pay, salary, bonus, recognition, sense of achievement and advancement, promotion, etc.
Equity occurs when comparing own ratio of input/output with ratios of relevant others. its formulae is
In equity arises when a persons ratio of outcome to input is not equal to relevant others outcome to input.
But why it is called as motivational theory? The answer is if a person ratio is not equal to other he will
strive to restore the ratio of equity this striving is motivation. But after striving hard in order to equal your
ratio with others you still doesnt get any out put you will become demotivated.

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