Employee Motivation

Literature Review
Randall S Jobski
Siena Heights University
12/5/15

Theories on Motivation

Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow introduced theory in 1943
Ismail & El Nakkache (2014)

Each level relying on the

other as a foundation
Move higher up the stack
Thielke et al. (2012)

Achievement Motivation
Theory
McClelland introduced in early 1950s
Minor (2005)

Theorys Roots - food deprivation;

persons thoughts consumed
by images of food
Atkinson and McClelland (as cited in Minor, 2005)

Achievement Motivation
Theory
Associate + / - feelings to experiences

+ inspire high motivation to reach again

Minimal stimulus triggers motivation
Stronger motivations > weaker ones
Minor (2005)

Motivation-Hygiene Theory
Herzberg introduced in late 1950s

Also known as the Two-Factor Theory

Minor (2005)

Extrinsic

Intrinsic
Kuo, Li-An, Ya-Jung,
& Chien-Ting

Path-Goal Theory
Employees Motivated IF . . .
Their work is within their ability
Effort yields expected outcome
Appropriate incentives for
achieving goal
Northouse (2013)

Path-Goal Theory
Leaders Must . . .

Select best leadership style for situation

Define goals with employee input
Clarify path
Remove obstacles
Provide leadership support
Northouse (2013)

Self-Determination Theory
Theory evolved over past 40 years
Studied effect of rewarding something a
person already wanted to do (Intrinsic)
Gagn and Deci (2014)

Finding: Reward -> Decline Intrinsic

Motivation
Deci (as cited in Gagn & Deci, 2014)

Self-Determination Theory
People making their own choices ->
improves intrinsic motivation
Deci (as cited in Gagn & Deci, 2014)

People working towards expertise ->

become highly intrinsically motivated
Vallerand and Reid (as cited in Gagn & Deci, 2014)

Job Factors that

Influence Motivation

Leadership
Success of organization tied to
motivation of employees tied to
strong leadership
Park and Word (2012)

Rely on path-goal theory

Remove issues, knock down walls, and
lower hurdles
Northouse & Lee (2016)

Public & Nonprofit

Public employees motivation increases
when their leaders motivation increases
Paarlberg, Perry, and Hondeghem (as cited in Park & Word, 2012)

Organizations ethical breach could

negatively affect motivation and morale
of public and nonprofit employees
Park and Word (2012)

Public & Nonprofit

Small organization size ->
Less bureaucracy -> higher
motivation
Ban, Drahnak-Faller, and Towers (as cited in Park & Word, 2012)

24% of nonprofit employees frustrated

with limited advancement in their
organization
Light (as cited in Park & Word, 2012)

Millennials
Motivated by assignments that are

Interesting
Moderately but suitably challenging
Will allow them to grow
Are different from what they have worked on in the
past
Flexibility
Engaging Work Community
Healthy work life balance
Kultalahti & Viitala (2014)

Millennials
Demotivated by
Opposite of items listed above
Not interested in work that is too time
consuming
Being stuck in the same position for too long
receiving lack of respect
Poor leadership
Kultalahti & Viitala (2014)

Intrinsic and extrinsic job

factors impact on motivation

Intrinsic Factors
Lead to Motivation
Leadership recognition of the work
completed
Employee performing interesting work
Tilekar and Pachpande (2014)

Employee achievement
Herzberg (as cited in Stringer, Didham, & Theivananthampillai, 2011)

Extrinsic Factors
Present to Support Motivation
Sound compensation structure
Equitable employee pay
Effective company policies that supports
employees
Decent work culture; comfortable company
atmosphere; employees / leadership get along
well together
Tilekar and Pachpande (2014)

Extrinsic Factors
Affect Motivation
Wealth
Fame
Image
Kasser and Ryan (as cited in Roche & Haar, 2013)

Threat of wage cuts

Outright dismissal
Frey (as cited in Stringer et al., 2011)

Impact on Motivation

Internal Drive
Microsoft produce encyclopedia
Great extrinsic motivators
Improved market share / visibility
Well compensated managers,
writes, editors, etc.
Pink (2009)

Internal Drive
Open-source encyclopedia
Solely on intrinsic motivators
No Pay for anyone
Product free for all to use
Little / no recognition for contribution

No special credentials to participate

Pink (2009)

Internal Drive
Result?
Wikipedia beat MS Encarta
MS worked on for 16 yrs
Wikipedia
After 8 years:
13M articles
260 languages
Pink (2009)

Higher Education Teachers

Teachers Job Satisfaction
Punjab, Pakistan
60 public schools out of 369
500 surveys distributed
380 surveys admitted into study
Nadim, Muhammad, Masood, & Riaz (2012)

Higher Education Teachers

Findings
Statistically significant relationship
between both intrinsic (39%) and
extrinsic (12%) motivation factors
and the satisfaction
Against Herzberg two factor theory
Nadim et al. (2012)

Higher Education Teachers

Findings Continued
Satisfaction due to intrinsic factors
Involved in college decision making
Promotion opportunities
Able to acquire new skills
Nadim et al. (2012)

Higher Education Teachers

Findings Continued
Satisfaction due to extrinsic
factors
Salary
Feedback
Rewards
Nadim et al. (2012)

Public and Nonprofit

Employees
Survey info from Illinois and Georgia

61 public organizations
305 nonprofit organizations
39% overall response rate
4-point Likert scale
All subscales > .7 - Cronbach's Alpha score
Park and Word (2012)

Public and Nonprofit

Employees
Public employees, more than private
sector employees, motivated > by
intrinsic than extrinsic factors
Horton and Hondeghem (as cited in Park & Word, 2012)

Intrinsic factors play a substantial role in

motivating public and nonprofit
employees
Park and Word (2012)

Public and Nonprofit

Employees
Satisfaction due to intrinsic factors
Organization reputation
Serving the public
Less bureacracy
Park and Word (2012)

References
Cerasoli, C. P., Nicklin, J. M., & Ford, M. T. (2014). Intrinsic motivation and
extrinsic incentives jointly predict performance: A 40-year metaanalysis.Psychological Bulletin,140(4), 980-1008.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0035661
Cachon, J., Codina, J. B., Eccius-Wellmann, C., McGraw, E., & Myers, D. A.
(2013). Entrepreneurial motives and performance: Evidence from North
America.Journal of Management Policy and Practice,14(3), 50-77.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1467971015?
accountid=28644
Gagn, M., & Deci, E. (2014). The history of self-determination theory in
psychology and management. Oxford Handbooks Online. Retrieved from
http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199794911.
001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199794911-e-006

References
Gigliotti, R. A. (2015). Discursive shifts and 360-degree feedback: Applied
managerial movements for human capital leadership. Journal of
Leadership, Accountability and Ethics,12(2), 41-49. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1726785997?accountid=28644
Ismail, H., & El Nakkache, L. (2014). Extrinsic and intrinsic job factors:
Motivation and satisfaction in a developing Arab country - the case of
Lebanon.Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship,19(1), 6682. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1503078626?
accountid=28644
Kultalahti, S., & Viitala, R. L. (2014). Sufficient challenges and a weekend
ahead - generation Y describing motivation at work. Journal of
Organizational Change Management,27(4), 569. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1660768182?accountid=28644

References
Kuo, T., Li-An, H., Ya-Jung, W., & Chien-Ting, L. (2010). The factors influencing
employees' attitudes in high-tech environment. Industrial Management &
Data Systems,110(7), 1054-1072.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02635571011069103
Minor, J. B. (2005). Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation
and leadership [Adobe Digital Editions version]. Retrieved from
http://site.ebrary.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/lib/michstate/detail.action?
docID=10178132
Nadim, M., Muhammad, S. C., Masood, N. K., & Riaz, T. (2012). Effects of
motivational factors on teachers' job satisfaction: A study on public sector
degree colleges of Punjab, Pakistan.The Journal of Commerce,4(4), 25.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1221264426?
accountid=28644

References
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th
ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Northouse, P. G., & Lee, M. E. (2016). Leadership case studies in
education. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Park, S. M., & Word, J. (2012). Driven to service: Intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation for public and nonprofit managers.Public
Personnel Management,41(4), 705-734. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1664901558?
accountid=28644
Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

References
Roche, M., & Haar, J. M. (2013). Leaders life aspirations and job burnout: A
self-determination theory approach.Leadership & Organization
Development Journal,34(6), 515-531.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-10-2011-0103
Stringer, C., Didham, J., & Theivananthampillai, P. (2011). Motivation, pay
satisfaction, and job satisfaction of front-line employees.Qualitative
Research in Accounting and Management,8(2), 161-179.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/11766091111137564
Thielke, S., Harniss, M., Thompson, H., Patel, S., Demiris, G., & Johnson, A.
(2012). Maslow's hierarchy of human needs and the adoption of healthrelated technologies for older adults.Ageing International,37(4), 470488. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12126-011-9121-4

References
Tilekar, P., & Pachpande, A. (2014). A study on employee
motivation of manufacturing, banking, & IT sector w.r.t.
Herzbergs two factor theory.International Journal of
Organizational Behaviour & Management
Perspectives,3(2), 897-903. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1648131415?
accountid=28644