The hierarchy is based on four assumptions:
I. A satisfied need does not motivation. When a need has been satisfied, another need emerges to take its place, so people are always striving to satisfy some need
II. The need interactions of most people are complex, with a number of needs, affecting the behaviour of each person at any one time.
III. In general, primary needs must be satisfied before secondary needs are activated
sufficiently to provoke motivated behaviour
IV. There are more varied ways of satisfying secondary needs than there are of satisfying primary needs.
Maslow’s Theory may be summarised and simplified by saying that everyone wants certain things throughout life, and these can be ranked in order of ascending importance:
i. Basic/Physiological Needs: The things needed to stay alive (food, shelter and clothing).Such needs require satisfaction before all other needs and can be satisfied by money.
ii. Safety/Security Needs: Protection against unemployment and consequences of sickness and retirement as well as safeguards against unfair treatment. These needs can be satisfied by the contract of employment (pension scheme, sick fund, employment legislation).
iii. Social Needs: People need to belong and it is only through group activity that this
need can be satisfied. How work is organised, enabling people to feel part of a group is fundamental to satisfaction of this need.
iv. Ego/Esteem Needs: People want the esteem of other people as well as feeling good about themselves. While status and promotion can offer short-term satisfaction, to
build up the job itself and to give people a greater say in organising their work(participation) is to give satisfaction of a more permanent nature.
v. Self-Actualization Needs: This is quite simply the need to achieve something worthwhile in life. It is a need that is satisfied only by continuing success.
The significance of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is that;
i. It underlines the relative importance of money. Status has no satisfaction for the man desperate for food and shelter
ii. It demonstrates that money alone is not enough because, when basic and safety needs become satisfied, people are likely to concentrate their attentions on social and ego needs. Motivation of staff depends not only on money but also on the whole employment package embracing:
pension, sick fund, canteen arrangements
nature of the work done
interest and challenge in the work
scope in the job for self-expression and self-determination
style of management used
Kavungya answered the question on
April 30, 2021 at 06:44