Explain the differences between content and process theories.
The differences between these two theories are that content theories focus on individuals. Process theories focus on how the motivation process takes place.
Company examples – find TWO organisations and identify all the ways in which they motivate their employees. Use primary research and/or secondary sources for example by looking up an organisation such as Innocent, BA, John Lewis. This information can often be found within the careers section of the website.
One of the organisations that were chosen is Beaver Brooks and the other one is John Lewis. One of the reasons why I picked John Lewis is because I used to work for them, so I know the basics of the motivation theories they uses.
The reasons why Beaver Brooks the Jewelers retailer was chosen is because stated in The Time (2010) they are the top 100 companies’ best to work for in 2009 it came in first place and awarded by the Sunday Times.
Overall these two companies are well known in their own field and both use a mixture of motivation theories to get the most out of their staff (efficiencies) and cut down the number of unauthorised absences.
Here are a few examples that John Lewis and Beaver Brooks the Jewelers retailer use a to motivate their staff Maslow, Herzberg and other motivation theories
Maslow’s theory – John Lewis and Beaver Books provide the basic levels of Maslow’s theory. But this is not enough to motivate their staff to work harder so they will arrange activities outside the company time so they can socialise with each other.
Esteem and self actualisations keeps their staff motive. Esteem is where they will feel that they are part of the company because in John Lewis they are not only staff but they are also partners.
Beaver Brooks will make their staff feel as a part of a family and also being the top employer of the year they will have a reputation to keep up with so they will need to create shared of successes and overcoming challenges in the working environment.
Also the managers in both organisations will help and advise their staff where they need improvements and this will make their staff feel recognised for the work they have done. This will lead to self actualisation because the managers are trusting them and they are improving their wisdom and creating new opportunities for their staff
When I walked into Beaver Books and ask a member of staff about her job. She replied that she enjoyed working for Beaver Brooks because she get involve to do some activities based on team work and not just the staff but also the managers join in. Also it is a relaxed atmosphere so they would not feel pressured.
She feel pride working Beaver Brooks because she not just selling the products but actually creating happy moments for herself and others around.
All these theories help John Lewis and Beaver Brooks to understand their staff needs and how to improve their staff and on the same time increase their profitability.
In addition, take one of the organisations from your research above and review which motivation models they appear to use in practice. Are there any gaps (e.g. is the organisation satisfying Maslow’s physiological needs but not social, does the organisation predominantly concentrate on providing Herzberg’s ‘hygiene factors’ but not the ‘motivators’?)
When I were working for John Lewis they were some gaps in Maslow’s theory because when I was starting there I did not being fully introduced to my colleagues and one of my supervisors was planning to leave due to his education so it was a bit of a rush.
In Herzberg’s theory factors was mostly met because we have to keep the working conditions and stocks in a presentable manner.
The only factor that wasn’t quite met was quality of supervision because at that time there were not enough section managers around and it was one of the busiest timed of the year.
Your section on Motivation in your blog should finish with a brief conclusion which evaluates your findings of this topic.
I have found out that Beaver Brooks has reached the top of employer of the year for 2009.
All companies use a mixture of motivation theories to help them to improve their relationships and turnovers.
Also they will share the success of business by providing bonuses, promotions and understanding their staff needs for flexible working hours because have family members to look after.
Bibliography and References
Beaver brooks the jewellers (n.d) About us [online] Available at: http://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/index.cfm?event=showAboutUs
[Accessed 22 October 2009]
John Lewis partnership (n.d) Working for us [online] Available at: http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?&MasterId=869aa67c-f6e6-42b4-98ca-0a1b16d906bb&NavigationId=547 [Accessed 22 October 2009]
The Sunday Times (2010) 100 best company 2010 [online] Available at: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies/best_100_tables/ [Accessed 22 October 2009]
Tutor 2u (n.d) Motivation in theory herzberg [online] Available at http://tutor2u.net/business/people/motivation_theory_herzberg.asp [Accessed 22 October 2009]
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Wednesday 14 October 2009
week 2 Motivation
Which content theory relates to me the most?
Motivation theory that wills suit me the most is Maslow’s because he has put all the basic needs at the bottom and we all need it from day to day. Also Maslow's theory can relate to working environment and even different stages of life.
One of the reasons why I have decided to choose Maslow’s theory is because he has identified five areas that we are all working toward, for example the bottom two levels are the most important which are physiological needs and safety. These two are the most important objects in life, for example physiological needs will be food, water, shelter and money. Then we move on to safety which can be defined as job security, safety at work and these will be basic needs.
Then we move on to the social needs which will help me to be comfortable / confident in any environment. Also this is one of the most important parts of the theory because being social can motivate me.
Esteem or Ego is about self respect and being recognised. How does it relate to me? When I was working for John Lewis, I was respected because I received good comments from my managers and customers. Also I felt appreciated and a sense of belonging.
The final stage of Maslow’s motivation theory is self actualisation which means feeling satisfied of what they have accomplished. I don’t feel I have achieved that so far because I have not got the time to do hobbies. The reason for this is that my working life is taking most of my time away. In a way it motivates me to complete the tasks that I set for myself.
On the other hand I have looked up other motivation theories, for example, Clayton Alderfer’s ERG: (E-existence, R-relatedness, and G-growth), Frederick Hertzberg’s, David McClelland’s and Abraham Maslow's. When I looked at Clayton Alderfer’s theory ERG, I feel that only two stages suited me. In Frederick Herzberg’s theory, the two factors he has mention I feel I can relate to it but most of it was at the moment when I started my career. David McClelland’s theory kinds of relates to me because all of us needs achievement, affiliation and power to enable me to keep going but I still feel that Maslow’s theory suited me the most because he has put them into a hierarchy of needs which applies to my working and social life.
What motivated me to study a degree in international management?
The reason why I’m here is because to help me to achieve my goals, for example accomplish my degree and building up my social networking, for that I mean people with experiences that can give me advices.
The reason why I started this course is because I want to achieve something that can help me to developed new skills and knowledge. Also help me to pursue a career in the future. Another reason is that I always admire families and friends who have comfortable lifestyle and also enjoyed their job. One of the most important points that motivate me is that I can prove to myself that I can achieve a degree and prove people with learning difficulties can also do the same. I don’t want to regret that I had a chance to go to university and my brother has effect to do better in my educations.
The next 2 – 3 years, there will be lots of things that will motivate me to go to the lectures, for example the course fee £££ that I have paid and one of the most important one is friends because on some projects we will be working together to accomplish.
In Maslow’s motivation theory I’m still at near the beginning / middle stage because at the moment now I have a regular source of income and still making new friends around the university.
Moment of de-motivation
When I was working for John Lewis I was de-motivated by one of my manager because she did not trust me to be responsible. I think she did not trust me to be responsible is because of my age and I was the youngest one in the team member. As time when on I have prove to her that I was responsible by being punctual, receiving good comments from customers and showing her that I good knowledge in my job role.
Also my colleagues has encourage me to talk to the manager about giving me more tasks in my job role and they have guided me on some areas that I was not sure on. When we was working together she has seen my performances and has decided to give me more responsibilities, for example cashing up the tills and locking up the front gate and this has motivated me because I now know that she trust me to be responsible.
In this section it relates to social needs because my colleagues has motivated me to speak the manager and it made me feel like I have achieve her trust.
If I could do it differently then I will pick another section department.
In conclusion, the research was very interesting and we all can relate to it in our experiences and plans in our life and all the theories are individual but it fits in their own ways.
Here are some web sites that I have visited
http://www.businessballs.com/davidmcclelland.htm http://www.learnmanagement2.com/DavidMcClelland.htm
http://www.businessballs.com/herzberg.htm
http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
Motivation theory that wills suit me the most is Maslow’s because he has put all the basic needs at the bottom and we all need it from day to day. Also Maslow's theory can relate to working environment and even different stages of life.
One of the reasons why I have decided to choose Maslow’s theory is because he has identified five areas that we are all working toward, for example the bottom two levels are the most important which are physiological needs and safety. These two are the most important objects in life, for example physiological needs will be food, water, shelter and money. Then we move on to safety which can be defined as job security, safety at work and these will be basic needs.
Then we move on to the social needs which will help me to be comfortable / confident in any environment. Also this is one of the most important parts of the theory because being social can motivate me.
Esteem or Ego is about self respect and being recognised. How does it relate to me? When I was working for John Lewis, I was respected because I received good comments from my managers and customers. Also I felt appreciated and a sense of belonging.
The final stage of Maslow’s motivation theory is self actualisation which means feeling satisfied of what they have accomplished. I don’t feel I have achieved that so far because I have not got the time to do hobbies. The reason for this is that my working life is taking most of my time away. In a way it motivates me to complete the tasks that I set for myself.
On the other hand I have looked up other motivation theories, for example, Clayton Alderfer’s ERG: (E-existence, R-relatedness, and G-growth), Frederick Hertzberg’s, David McClelland’s and Abraham Maslow's. When I looked at Clayton Alderfer’s theory ERG, I feel that only two stages suited me. In Frederick Herzberg’s theory, the two factors he has mention I feel I can relate to it but most of it was at the moment when I started my career. David McClelland’s theory kinds of relates to me because all of us needs achievement, affiliation and power to enable me to keep going but I still feel that Maslow’s theory suited me the most because he has put them into a hierarchy of needs which applies to my working and social life.
What motivated me to study a degree in international management?
The reason why I’m here is because to help me to achieve my goals, for example accomplish my degree and building up my social networking, for that I mean people with experiences that can give me advices.
The reason why I started this course is because I want to achieve something that can help me to developed new skills and knowledge. Also help me to pursue a career in the future. Another reason is that I always admire families and friends who have comfortable lifestyle and also enjoyed their job. One of the most important points that motivate me is that I can prove to myself that I can achieve a degree and prove people with learning difficulties can also do the same. I don’t want to regret that I had a chance to go to university and my brother has effect to do better in my educations.
The next 2 – 3 years, there will be lots of things that will motivate me to go to the lectures, for example the course fee £££ that I have paid and one of the most important one is friends because on some projects we will be working together to accomplish.
In Maslow’s motivation theory I’m still at near the beginning / middle stage because at the moment now I have a regular source of income and still making new friends around the university.
Moment of de-motivation
When I was working for John Lewis I was de-motivated by one of my manager because she did not trust me to be responsible. I think she did not trust me to be responsible is because of my age and I was the youngest one in the team member. As time when on I have prove to her that I was responsible by being punctual, receiving good comments from customers and showing her that I good knowledge in my job role.
Also my colleagues has encourage me to talk to the manager about giving me more tasks in my job role and they have guided me on some areas that I was not sure on. When we was working together she has seen my performances and has decided to give me more responsibilities, for example cashing up the tills and locking up the front gate and this has motivated me because I now know that she trust me to be responsible.
In this section it relates to social needs because my colleagues has motivated me to speak the manager and it made me feel like I have achieve her trust.
If I could do it differently then I will pick another section department.
In conclusion, the research was very interesting and we all can relate to it in our experiences and plans in our life and all the theories are individual but it fits in their own ways.
Here are some web sites that I have visited
http://www.businessballs.com/davidmcclelland.htm http://www.learnmanagement2.com/DavidMcClelland.htm
http://www.businessballs.com/herzberg.htm
http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
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