Organizational behavior - Essay Example

Motivation has always been considered a stronghold of the human resources department but lately organizations have realized that line managers are constantly in contact with the employees and for most of the employees, their immediate superiors represent the management of the company (Brewster & Larsen 1992). If these managers have the responsibility and authority to control and reward the employees directly under them, it could enhance productivity and effectively work out better for the organization.

The personnel specialists have practically negligible interactions with the employers and it is felt that line managers are appropriate to handle the issues relating to staff under them. They are suitable to motivate and being out the best from the staff. Motivation to work can come from external factors or from within. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the physiological needs have to be satisfied for an individual to be motivated to work for the next need. In this hierarchy the self-actualization arises when all other needs have been satisfied.

According to Herzberg two factors act upon the motivation of employees – the hygiene factors and the motivators. Hygienes are the intrinsic entities while motivators are intrinsic (Tietjen & Myers, 1998). According to Herzberg motivators cause positive job attitudes because they satisfy the workers need for self-actualization, which according to Maslow is the need for self-actualization, which is an individual’s ultimate goal. These motivators include recognition, achievement, growth prospects, responsibility and the work itself.

Most employees are not clear about the roles and responsibilities, no role clarity, which leads to no satisfaction of job as the motivators according to Herzberg (cited by Tietjen & Myers, 1998) are not present. These factors can have a lasting impression on worker’s attitude,