Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory: Motivation

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Here at My Organisational Bahviour we want to try and provide as much up-to-date information on the subject of Organisational Behaviour as we can. However, there is nothing better than having a book to sit down in a quiet place and read. We recommend the following books.

Organizational Behaviour (Buchanan and Huczynski)

Management and Organisational Behaviour (Mullins)

Fredrick Herzberg came up with a theory which would look into what caused job satisfaction and what caused job dissatisfaction. Factors which influenced making a job satisfying were called ‘Motivator Factors’ whilst factors which made a job dissatisfying were named ‘Hygiene Factors’. Below are what both of these sets include;

Hygiene Factors

If these factors are not present, they will cause people within the organisation to become dissatisfied. For example, salary and pay, job security, working conditions, supervision, company policies and interpersonal relationships.

Motivation Factors

When these factors are present, people within the organisation will become satisfied. For example; achievement, recognition, responsibility, job satisfaction and personal development.

McClelland – Achievement Motivation Theory (1961)

Herzberg’s theory of motivation relates to McClelland’s in some ways, as McClelland also looked into different aspects which motivate workers and came up the same results, although he didn’t look into factors which dissatisfy workers. He came up with three achievement motivators, which were the following;

Achievement Motivation
Authority/Power Motivation
Affiliation Motivation

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