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A note on Motivation

Motivation Theories


Motivation- those factors that cause ,channel, and sustain people’s behavior. Motivation is not always easy to discern. Most successful managers ,however, have learned by experience that people are generally very responsive to praise and encouragement-expressed not only in words but also in actions and need to feel successful in their work to give their best effort to the organization.

Different View points on Motivation

The Traditional Model

The traditional model of motivation is associated with Fredrick Taylor and scientific management which held that an important aspect of the manager’s job was to make sure that workers perform repetitive  tasks in the most efficient way.

The Human Relations Model

In the human relations model, workers were expected to accept management’s authority because supervisors treated them with consideration and were attentive to their needs. The intent of managers ,however remained the same- to have the workers accept the work situation as established by managers.

The Human Resources Model


Douglas McGregor , Abraham Maslow , Chris Argyris and Renis  Likert  criticized the human relations model and they argued that most people are already motivated to do a good job and they do not automatically see work as undesirable. McGregor proposed that there are two different sets of assumptions about what motivates people. 
  • The traditional view known as Theory X  ,contends that people have an inherent dislike for work,regard it only as necessary for survival and will avoid it whenever possible. 
  • Theory Y   is a much more optimistic view of human nature assuming that the expenditure of physical and mental effort in work to be natural as at play or rest.People will direct them selves towards objectives if their achievements are rewarded.

Three Types of Motivation Theories
  • Content Theories
  • Process Theories
  • Reinforcement Theories


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