Maslow's theory has not received a great deal of research support with respect to specific things it proposes, for example the exact needs that exist and the order that they are activated is assumed, but not truly known.
Herzberg's Dual Factors Theory Motivation .
Another major need's theory is that of Herzberg. He suggested that there are two groups of factors important to motivation - hygiene factors and motivators. Both are equally important to motivation. Hygiene factors only have the power to demotivate if they are not adequate but increasing them will not improve motivation - for example working conditions are hygiene factors because if they are not of an acceptable level they will demotivate, but once they are at a required level, improving them will not motivate people. Other hygiene factors include money, conditions and security.
Motivators are:.
Achievement at work.
Recognition of work done.
The work itself (is it interesting or boring?).
Responsibility for what one does.
Advancement.
Growth.
Improvement chances.
Herzberg differentiates between movement (that is getting people to do something) and motivation - we will examine this later in this section further). He suggests that paying people more will get them to move, but does not motivate them. Unless people have interesting and meaningful work to do they cannot be motivated, only moved. So needs theory is based on the proposition that motivation can be best explained in terms of needs fulfilment.
Process Theories.
Process theories provide a description and analysis of how behaviour is energised, directed, sustained and stopped. Process theories include: reinforcement, expectancy, equity and goal setting. Reinforcement and goal setting have been supported by research studies and are therefore seen as the most helpful in application. We will examine two major process theories in this section. Vroom's expectancy theory and Skinner's reinforcement theory.