Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs, Motivation in the workplace

Summary / Abstract

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (MHN) is a broadly accepted model and theory for understanding what motivates people through what needs they have. Maslow arranges the needs in a hierarchy in order of importance. This means that a higher level of need cannot be fulfilled unless all the needs of lower levels are satisfied[1]. In his theory motivation is derived from a lack of fulfillment of one need, and which ever level of need is deprived the most, will become what dominates the motivation of the employee[2]. Furthermore Maslow claims this model to be generally applicable for any type of employee in any type of work or workplace. This article will go through Maslow’s different levels of hierarchical needs, and how it relates to motivation of employees in a project, program, or portfolio. Here it will be gone through how it can improve output and quality of the work an employee does, and their commitment to the cause (I. E. the purpose of the project, for example the desired socio-economic benefits of an infrastructure project). The application of the model and theory will be gone through followed by it's limitations, and a discussion of it's pros and cons will be carried out based on the knowledge presented in the preceding chapters. This should then give a better understanding of how a manager, whether the manager manages portfolios, programs, or projects, can improve the team's efforts and results by giving the proper motivation and covering the fundamental needs of the employee.

Content

  •Big Idea
      -what is Maslow's hierarchical needs model and theory?
      -Walk through of the model and fundamental understanding of the theory
      -How does it relate to projects programs and portfolios
      -Motivational theory relating Maslow's hierarchical needs in the context of a workplace

  •Application 
      -how is it used?
      -when is it used?

  •Limitations 
      -what to be aware about?
      -When not to use the model?

  •Discussion
      -What are the benefits of this application?
      -what are the consequences of this application?
      -how can the consequences be mitigated?

  •Refrences

Big Idea

Maslows model consits traditionally of five levels of different types of needs. Since the model is a hierarchy, then the first level of needs must be fulfilled before the second level can be unlocked. Below the five levels are explained in order from lowest to highest level.

The physiological needs are the first level. These consists of the need for water, food, sex and shelter, and in a modern society this can be boiled down to a need for a sufficiently high salary, that will allow you to be able to afford coverage of these needs. The second level are the safety needs, i.e. Protection from any dangers or threads. This could be the thread of loosing a new job, or being worried about how a financial crisis might impact the employee's position. The third level are social needs. The need for love, belonging, friendship, and acceptance amongst peers are very fundamental needs for social creatures such as humans. The fourth level is called the Ego needs. These are split in two categories. need for independence or autonomy and needs for self-esteem or self-worth [1]. The first category are needs for achievement, adequacy, and freedom, where the second category are needs for Status, recognition, and prestige.[1]. The fifth level is the level for self actualization needs. This is the need to live up to ones full potential, and to continue self development. Some might refer to this as fulfilling ones destiny [2]. From this model two postulates are worth highlighting. the first postulate is: "a satisfied need is not a motivator of behavior." [1] "To the extent that lower order needs become satisfied, the next higher-order level of needs becomes the most prepotent determinant of behavoior" [1]

Refrences

[1] Pardee, L. (1990) Motivation Theories of Maslow, Herzberger, Mcgregor & McClelland. A litterature Review of Selected Theories dealing with job satisfaction and motivation. 1-24

   - A literature review of some of the most relevant theories dealing with job satisfaction and motivation

[2] Fallatah, R., & Syed, J. (2017). Employee Motivation in Saudi Arabia. An Investigation Into the Higher Education Sector., 19-59.

   - A critical review of Maslow's theory and model