Motivation Project. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

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Motivation Theory
Motivation refers to all the factors that have an impact on the mental and physical reactions of a person and carry an effect on the final energy and commitment that an individual performs a certain task with. Employee motivation is a critical factor in the success of any business. The level of motivation within a workforce determines their level of commitment and hard work, which affect the productivity within the business. Customer satisfaction is usually high in the businesses where the employees are highly motivated. Highly motivated employees tend to register fewer grievances and other disruptive actions such as industrial actions. They also tend to perform better under minimum supervision (Lazaroiu 97). Creating a motivated workforce is a task that requires a huge investment in terms of effort, finances, and time. Motivation is also largely dependent on leadership style, the organizational culture, as well as the management style. Various theories regarding motivation have been developed over time. This paper seeks to discuss the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, its advantages, and disadvantages, as well as its application in the modern business environment.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory
This theory was developed in 1943 by Abraham Maslow. The theory is represented as a pyramid, whereas the bottom comprises of the most basic needs, while the needs for self-actualization are at the top of the pyramid (Robertson 143). Physiological needs are the physical requirements that an individual requires in order to function optimally. They include food, shelter, clothing, sleep, and sex. According to the theory, these needs are at the bottom of the hierarchy. Once the physiological needs have been satisfied, they cease being a motivating factor and the individual moves up the hierarchy. Here, safety needs dominate the individual’s behavior. The safety needs include job security, personal safety as well as health and well being. On satisfying the safety needs, the need for social belonging takes precedence. The needs under this third level of human needs include intimacy, friendship, and family. Status needs are the next in the hierarchy. In this level, individual seek recognition, acceptance, and respect from others. Imbalances at this level usually result in low self-esteem and inferiority complex. The needs for self-actualization and self-transcendence lie at the top of the pyramid. At this level, one seeks to accomplish all that is within their potential both for themselves and for the other human beings. Various studies have validated this theory (Robertson 146).
Advantages of the Needs Theory
The Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory provides a valuable way of approaching human motivations, giving incentives, as well as establishing the differences between them. In a brilliant way, Maslow diverged from behaviorist assumption, which advanced only a few needs as the primary...