Employee Motivation for MGT 331

Essay by RainMillerUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, May 2004

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Employee Motivation

It is the assignment of this paper to analyze an internet article on employee motivation in the workplace. It is then that we are to evaluate whether or not our organization is achieving the desired results. And finally, we are to discuss the particular motivational theory that we believes applies to our organization.

Let's begin this paper by defining motivation. What is motivation? According to Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn; "motivation refers to the individual forces that account for the direction, level, and persistence of a person's effort expended at work." (2002, p. 147)

Phase one of this assignment is selecting an internet article related to employee motivation and analyzing its contents. The article that was chosen is entitled, "Employee Motivation in the Workplace." The article begins by stating,

The job of a manager in the workplace is to get things done through employees. To do this the manager should be able to motivate employees.

But that's easier said then done. Motivation practice and theory are difficult subjects, touching on several disciplines. (Accel-Team.com, 2003, p. 1)

The author then moves on to discuss some of the enormous amounts of research that have gone into motivation and how it's "not clearly understood and more often than not poorly practiced." (Accel-Team.com, 2003, p. 1) It is with this, that the author begins to briefly discuss several motivational theories. These theories include: theory Y, two-factor motivation hygiene theory, theory Z (hierarchy of needs), Hawthorne experiments, and achievement motivation.

According to Accel-Team.com, (2003), "Motivation is the key to performance improvements." It is with this that the article moves on to discuss several basic strategies for motivation. These strategies include: "positive reinforcement/high expectations, effective discipline and punishments, treating people fairly, satisfying employee needs, setting work related goals, restructuring jobs, and basing rewards on...