THEORIES OF MOTIVATION

When it comes to motivation models, there are normally one or two 'classics' that immediately spring to mind: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, for example, or Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory (these will be explored on your programme). In reality, however, a whole raft of psychologists and social scientists were at work throughout the 20th century, developing their own theories of motivation. Although lesser known than the ideas of Maslow and his contemporaries, these models provide valuable insights into what motivates people at work. Here we take a look at some of these theories and their implications for leaders and managers. The Hawthorne Effect In the 1920s and 1930s, Harvard professor George Elton Mayo conducted a series of experiments at the Hawthorne Western Electric Plant in Illinois. He began by investigating the effect of light on employee productivity, but soon started to experiment with other variables. In one study, a small group of employees was asked to take part in a special experiment. They were asked to work as a team, in a separate room away from the main factory, with the support of a supervisor. Before the experiment started, the subjects were allowed to select a small number of co-workers to join their team. Over the course of the experiment, the supervisor