2. How useful are psychological motivation theories in explaining Essay

2. How useful are psychological motivation theories in explaining behaviour in organizations - Essay Example For an effective employee, management and leadership in the workplace, there is need for understanding human nature. This is what motivational theories help the management do. These theories fall under four categories i.e. need-based theories, job based theories, cognitive process theories and the behavioural approach. These theories together provide significant insight about human behaviour thus helping managers to comprehend and motivate workers thereby improving productivity. These theories attempt to explain work motivation in terms of the extent to which employees fulfil their needs in the workplace. One important theory that falls under this category is the Maslow hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s studies about human motivation led him to establish a theory of need based on the hierarchical chain with basic needs at the bottom and higher needs at the top (Dye, Mills & Weatherbee, 2005). His emphasis was that most people are motivated by the desire to satisfy a specific group of needs. These needs are: Physiological needs which include food, shelter, clothing, sleep, sex etc. Safety or security needs which comprise of the needed for a stable environment free from threats and social needs with regard to one’s relationship with others and status within a group. Self esteem needs which comprise of the need for self respect, self esteem and the esteem of others. Self actualisation needs which simply refer to the need for fulfilment. An organisatio n can meet some of these needs through simple exercises like giving employees adequate breaks for meals, adequate salaries to cater for their families, encouraging team work to achieve their social needs and giving them challenging assignments to allow them to be creative at their work. Maslow believed that human beings tend to satisfy their needs systematically starting with the basic psychological needs and then moving up the hierarchy. A person’s behaviour will be