The lower order needs (safety and basic) relate to the hygiene factors of Herzberg’s two-factor theory. The higher order needs relate to the motivators, so in fact these theories are quite similar and support one and other.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs states that employees must satisfy each need before they are able to achieve the next. Only when the lower order needs of physical and safety are satisfied can they consider the higher order needs of self-actualisation.
Also, if the things that satisfy lower order needs are taken away, they are no longer concerned about the maintenance of higher order needs.
McClelland furthered Maslow’s idea in his learned needs theory. He identified sets of motivators present in different people and proposed that these needs were socially acquired or learned. The extent to which these motivators are present varies from person to person, and depends on the individual differences.
McClelland suggests that people are driven by three motives:
- achievement,
- affiliation,
- influence/ power
Over 1000 studies relevant to achievement motivation have been conducted, which strongly support the theory.
My main motivation to start my degree is the qualifications gained at the end, which in turn will enable me to get a job and hopefully earn a good amount of money. Therefore, my main motivation is money; however a lot of social factors and experience factors are also included in my decision to go to university.
So far in my degree, the lower order needs have been met; I have the basic needs and I feel safe and secure. This has meant that I have been able to go on to fulfil my social needs and relationships. If I had not of felt safe and secure then I would not have felt comfortable with making new friends; this supports Maslow’s theory.
As mentioned before, I am mainly motivated by money; however if I had not satisfied my lower order needs then money would not have been enough motivation for me to carry on with my degree. This is where the theory relates to a business well; most employees will also have their main motivation as money, but if they do not feel secure and do not enjoy their work environment then they may try to find another job elsewhere. On the other hand, some people may feel they have to put up with poor conditions because money is such a dominant motivator.
One time when I have been de-motivated was working for Waitrose, when I was told I was not allowed a bottle of water to drink through my shift. This de-motivated me because I felt it was unfair and that it was a basic human right. This links to the first level of Maslow’s hierarchy; I could not get past the first level so felt I could not go any higher and was extremely demotivated. This is also links to Existence needs (basic needs) in Aldefer’s ERG theory, and hygiene factors in Herzberg’s theory – these theories both state that basic needs (food and water) are needed for a person to be motivated. It also, to a degree, relates to McClelland’s theory of achievement motivation. I felt powerless because I was lower down in the company, and I felt the need to win the argument about having water, which links to the third point in his theory (power and influence).
My conclusion for this topic is that not everybody can be motivated in the same way. For example, money can be a much bigger motivator for those who are less well off. A lot of employees may respond better to non-monetary motives like praise and feedback. Also motivators are not enough if the employees feel that their basic needs are not being met, if they are feeling unsafe, or if they do not have good relationships with the people whom they work with.
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A good discussion of Maslow with links made back to your personal experiences also good inclusion of McClelland but greater depth is required to show your understanding and it does not link as well to Maslow as Alderfer, however you do to include all three when describing your period of demotivation. You are right to suggest that money is a big motivator, but remember it is not the only one, and as you state everyone is motivated in different ways. Check references, Businessballs isn't an academic reference.
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