Improving Staff Performance
Content and Process theories
Motivation has two theories, one theory is called content theory, and one is called process theory. Content theory is based on factors that are related to what motivates an individual. It expects individuals to have a set of needs in which they carry out. Content theories is what drives an individual to be motivated, the four content theories of motivation are Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Alderfer's ERG, Herzberg's two factor and McClelland's achievement motivation theory. Lussier (2011) defines content theories as theories that concentrate on identifying and understanding employee needs.
Process theory is how it motivates the individual. It takes into account how the individual behaves in order to be motivated. It assumes that they choose their own goals, and choose how to get them by a process of calculation. The major process theories of motivation are the expectancy or Vroom theory, equity theory, goal-setting theory. Daft (2009) describes process theories as a bunch of theories which explain how employees choose behaviours with which to meet their needs.
The goal-setting theory is where goals are the most vital factor in order to keep an individual motivated and the most vital factor to how an employee acts. Goal-setting theory underlines that more challenging goals, but not impossible goals lead to better performance than easier goals, as long as the individual is interested in. This may be because easy goals can be achieved effortlessly and therefore more activity is needed. Specific goals also can lead to higher performances, this is because casual goals can mean the individual will be less motivated to work towards the goal. Feedback can also be necessary in order for the individual to accomplish and reach the goal as the knowledge of results can enhance the persons feeling and therefore, motivation will be higher. Commitment also plays a big role in the goal setting theory. An individual will need to be committed and dedicated to the achievement of the goal and have an unwillingness to discard the objective. Kurtz (2011) also highlights that people will be motivated to the degree to which they accept specific, challenging goals.
Apple
Apple is a multinational
company that is famous for its products and services. It is also well known for
many other reasons, such as ways in which to motivate employees. One way in
which they motivate employees is simply through an motivational talk. Steve
Jobs was the co-founder of apple, Jobs had very inspirational talks that helped
motivate people, Jobs (n.d) had a quote saying “Be
a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where
excellence is expected.” This shows that apples quality should be the best they
can make it, and for this to happen, motivation is needed. Other ways to
motivate employees is to offer and provide many products. Apple offers many
benefits. These are benefits such as giving employee discounts and supplying
them with their own Imac. Other benefits include health and life insurance,
financial education seminars, tuition assistance, paid vacations and holidays,
onsite fitness centre and many more that will be suited to the employee. This
is so they can reward them and help improve the employees quality of life so
that they feel valued. People can be more motivated feeling valued as they will
feel pleased knowing that they are making a difference and that they belong to
a company. Apart from all the benefits package employees get, apple also has
competitive pay. They have a quote on the website saying “Take care of our customers, and we’ll take care of you” so this is a motivation factor to work hard as if
customers are happier, the pay may be higher. Work life balance is also
important at Apple as there is flexibility so you can spend time with family
and other commitments. They offer home working, which can make employees feel
less pressurised, which means their can be more motivation to work.Apple can be linked to many process theories. It can be linked to the goal setting theory for many reasons. Many companies main goals are to do well financially, however, apple also sets goals in the environment. According to the website, one of their goals is to cut down and remove environmentally harmful substances. This links to the goal setting theory because their aim is need to meet that goal, and in order to complete their aim, motivation is needed. The goal will also be challenging, as many countries still use this harmful substances so it will be hard to reduce using it. Apple also has goals they have achieved, such as having “record breaking goal attainments in various other countries” There have been many difficult challenges apple have faced in creating new products for consumers to buy, there goal setting has to be challenging and high because of the competitors they face, therefore, this makes their motivation high. However the most difficult challenge they are most likely to have is the death of Steve Jobs Jobs had everything needed for the apple job, imagination, motivation and inspiration. Many ask if apple will live up to the challenge after the death of Steve Jobs, their goals will have to be set high and in order to accomplish that, motivation is needed.
Conclusion
Overall, motivation has been an striking topic. I have learnt many new theories that relate to motivation and some theories that I can link to myself. I have found out that motivation counts on the individual. The goal setting theory is important because it also relies on the individual, being motivated can also depend how much the individual wants to complete a goal and how much they are committed. The expectancy theory is also requires an individuals behaviour as this is influenced by personal and environmental factors. The expectancy theory there is high motivation of effort from an individual because of how badly an individual wants a reward, it is expected that they will perform well with the anticipation of a reward at the end. Dubrin (2008) points out that the expectancy theory is the belief that people will have effort, if they think that effort will lead to a better performance and in turn a reward.
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