Blog 2 : Improvement Staff Perfomance

There are two different type of theories of motivation which are 'Content' and 'Process' theory.The difference between these two theories is that, in one hand, the 'Content' theories are based on What Motivates ,for example, these theories presume that people have a set of needs which they pursue.In the other hand, 'Process' theories are based on How does it Motivates,for example, these presume that individuals select their goals and choose how to get them by a process of calculation. There are three different process theories which are 'Expectancy Theory' , 'Equity Theory' , 'Goal Theory' .


An interesting theory of the 'Process Theories' is Adam's Equity Theory.The core of the 'Equity Theory' is the principle of balance or equity.Indeed, an individual's motivation level is linked to his perception of equity, fairness and justice from his manager.Most of the employees of a company will compared the others employees in order to evaluate their position within the company.However, fairness is not perceived in the same way for every employees which could lead to conflicts between them.While evaluating fairness, employee compares the job inputs to his outputs.Indeed, the theory demonstrates that the individuals are both concerned about with their own rewards and also with what others get in comparison.

                                              ( Fig.1 : Inputs and Outputs balance, Google Images )


Equity is perceived when this ratio is equal. While if this ratio is unequal, it leads to “equity tension”. J.Stacy Adams called this a negative tension state which motivates him to do something right to relieve this tension. (managementstudyguide.com)




Tesco


Tesco is Britain's largest retailer with over 2,200 stores , in a very competitive market, so they must ensure to have the right employees to make it work.Indeed, Tesco makes sure that the staff have a clear understanding of the demand from the manager and a operational workforce.Tesco also uses 360-degree appraisal where all contacts with the employee (for example, manager, colleagues and customers) assess performance and give feedback. They also motivate their staff by setting up a training for each employee and by self-developement to help them grow within the company.Tesco have focused on motivation by rewards and benefits such as Staff privilege card , pension for the retirement and also a leisure time for the staff such as holidays , gym membership and theme parks discounts.

Tesco's staff motivation can be linked with the 'Equity Theory' above , as each staff member are rewarded the same way but what they receive is shared equally and therefore all the staff members feel being part of the team and treated with fairness.
In other words, this links with the 'Equity Theory' as feedback members saying that their developement  and fairness within linked with the rewards and the achievement of goals in partnership was good in supportive atmosphere.


Overall , there is few 'Process Theories' but the 'Equity Theory' is the one which every potential employee or current staff members are seeking.Indeed, that theory is working around fairness in order to make every staff member feeling comfortable in a supportive atmosphere.
Also, there is many companies using 'Process Theories' which leads to helping to motivate their staff and achieve the targeted goals for the company.

REFERENCES

• Mary Simpson ( Powerpoint Presentation ) 
• Tesco - Rewards & Benefits ( http://www.tesco-careers.com/home/working/rewards-and-benefits)
• Google Images

Blog 1 : Motivation

 Motivation refers to the mainspring of behaviour; it explains why individuals choose to expend a degree of effort towards achieving particular goals. Understanding more about attitudes to work provides a partial context for understanding motivation. But this context needs to be expanded beyond individual attitudes and group pressures to include non-attitudinal factors like present life style, material commiments and assumed capabilities. These affect a person's choice of goals as well as the more or less rational processes which underlie their decisions to expend effort in particular ways. Motivation theory has developed in two ways, one focusing on the content and the other on the process.
Maslow's theory is based on a hierarchy of needs , he has developed a framework for understanding human motivation and needs.

That framework is made up in 5 sections.
Every sections reflects a stage which an employee reachs when he joins the company.

This hierarchy starts with the Physiological Needs which are related to the survival and maintenance of human life such as things as food , water , air , those things are primary needs.



--> FIG.1 : Maslow's hierarchy of needs : www.mbaknol.com
                         
The second stage of Maslow hierarchy can only be reached if the Physiological needs are satisfied.This stage of this hierarchy is Safety needs.This level includes job security,security of source of income, insurance against risks.Those needs are the most important ones because if they are not reached the employee would not feel secure.According to the Maslow hierarchy , if those needs aren't achieved you won't be able to reached the next level.

The third level of Maslow hierarchy of needs is Social needs. This level aim to show that employee who have reached this level wants to socialize with other people in the company.This part of the hierarchy is achieved once the employee is therefore interested in conversation, feel apart from the company.

The fourth level of this pyramid is Esteem Needs.This includes self-esteem and esteem from others.This Esteem needs embrace such things as self-confidence,independence,achievement, knowledge,competence.These needs boost the ego of individual.They are also known as egoistic needs.They are concerned with prestige and status of the individual.

The fifth and last level of Maslow hierarchy of needs is the Self-Actualization.This is the final step under the need priority model is the need for self-fulfillment or the need to fulfill what a person considers being his mission in life.In other words , that step means that you think that you have reached your full individual potential through your career.




                                                             Motivation
What has motivated me to go in University or more specifically to do a Business and Management degree was the opening to the world of business and communication with learning the culture of work within a company.It will also give me the opportunity of learning another language which is the first motivation for me, but I think that I was motivated by the possibility to achieve a goal or to get the recognition from the others for my efforts during those 3 years.

                                                            De-Motivation
A lack of motivation is a universal feeling. While some of us will feel unmotivated occasionally, others may experience it in phases or for extended periods of time.
When I was in sixth form , I used to be de-motivated all the time because I didn't feel like I was part of my class, so automatically I thought very de-motivated because even my teachers kept telling that I will not be capable to go to University in England . Indeed , I wasn't motivated for almost the entire year but when I realized that I could do it , that if I wanted to , I could be successful , so I had to work hard and my friends and my family helped me to do it.

This essay explains the factor of motivation which is something really important in working life and Maslow explained it very well through is theory of the pyramid of needs. Maslow's theory of motivation was based upon a person always trying to better them selves. The next level or step could not be achieved until the previous had been satisfied completely.


References :

• Mary Simpson ( Powerpoint , 2011)

• Fig.1 : http://www.mbaknol.com/management-concepts/theories-of-motivation-abraham-maslow%E2%80%99s-need-hierarchy-model/

• Dawson, S.(1992)  Analysing Organisations.2nd edition