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People in Business

Motivation theories

  • 2 things to know
  • AS Unit 2

Overview

The main motivation theories, including Taylor's scientific management, Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory, and how managers apply them.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the central claim of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Key term

What are the two factors in F. Herzberg's two factor theory?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is meant by motivation?

    Model answer

    Motivation is the desire and willingness of an employee to work hard and to do the job well.

  2. 2

    Give four benefits to a business of a motivated workforce.

    Model answer

    Productivity is higher, quality improves, absenteeism and labour turnover fall, and employees put forward ideas for improvement.

  3. 3

    Summarise F. W. Taylor's theory of scientific management.

    Model answer

    Taylor argued that workers are motivated chiefly by money, that each task has one best method which can be established by careful study, and that workers should be selected, trained and paid by results to follow it.

  4. 4

    How did Taylor argue workers should be paid?

    Model answer

    He advocated piece rate, so that pay is directly proportional to output and the worker has a financial incentive to produce more.

  5. 5

    Give two criticisms of Taylor's approach.

    Model answer

    It treats people as machines and ignores their social and psychological needs, and dividing work into narrow repetitive tasks makes jobs boring and can reduce quality.

  6. 6

    What did E. Mayo's work on human relations conclude?

    Model answer

    Mayo concluded that output rose when workers were given attention and worked in stable groups, so social relationships, group membership and being consulted matter as much as physical conditions or pay.

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