- It is the process by which a person’s efforts are energized, directed, and sustained towards attaining a goal.
- The three components of motivation, Arnold et al (1991)
- Energy: a measure of intensity or drive(how hard a person is trying)
- Direction: toward organizational goals(what a person is trying to do)
- Persistence: exerting effort to achieve goals(how long a person keeps on trying)
Motivation is the complex set of forces starting and keeping a person at work in an organization.
Robert Dublin
Types of Motivation
Intrinsic motivation
- Intrinsic motivation takes place when individuals feel that their work is important, interesting and challenging and that it provides them with a reasonable degree of autonomy (freedom to act), opportunities to achieve and advance, and scope to use and develop their skills and abilities.
- Intrinsic motivation can be enhanced by job design. Katz (1964) suggested that jobs should in themselves provide sufficient variety, complexity, challenge and skill to engage the abilities of the worker.
Extrinsic motivation
- Extrinsic motivation occurs when things are done to or for people in order to motivate them. These include rewards such as incentives, increased pay, praise or promotion; and punishments such as disciplinary action, withholding pay, or criticism.
Importance of Motivation
- Ability to reach goals
- Productivity
- High efficiency
- Job satisfaction
- Better relations
- Good image
Theories of motivation
Content Theories
Content models of motivation focus on what people need in their lives (what motivates them)
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory of Motivation
- McGregor’s X and Y Theory of Motivation
Process Theories
Process theories look at the psychological and behavioural processes that affect the individual’s motivation.