Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
What are the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualisation.
Name the four drives in Lawrence and Nohria’s theory.
Acquire, bond, learn and defend.
What is the main idea/factors behind Locke and Latham’s Goal-Setting Theory?
Clear, specific and challenging goals can increase motivation and performance.
A business gives employees a pay rise. Name one motivation theory that could explain why this works.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs or Lawrence and Nohria’s Four-Drive Theory.
Name the three phases of the employment cycle.
Establishment, maintenance and termination.
An employee wants a regular wage to pay for food. Which level of need is this?
Physiological needs.
True or False" Lawrence and Nohria is a motivational theory which can only target one drive at a time.
FALSE
Identify two strengths of Locke and Latham
Improves employee motivation and effort.
Provides clear direction and focus.
Encourages employees to achieve challenging targets.
Makes employee performance easier to measure.
Can improve productivity and business performance.
Identify two ways a business could motivate employees using Locke and Latham’s Goal-Setting Theory.
Set specific, challenging goals and provide feedback on employee progress.
Name two selection methods a business could use to choose a suitable applicant.
Interviews, aptitude tests, psychological tests, reference checks or background checks.
A manager provides permanent employment to help employees feel secure. Which need is being addressed?
Safety Needs
Explain how a business could use Lawrence and Nohria’s Four-Drive Theory to motivate an employee who wants opportunities to learn new skills.
The business could satisfy the drive to comprehend by providing training and development opportunities, helping the employee build skills and increasing motivation.
Identify two weaknesses of Locke and Latham
Goals that are too difficult may reduce employee motivation.
Employees may focus on achieving goals at the expense of other tasks.
Goals can create stress and pressure for employees.
Employees may lack the skills or resources needed to achieve their goals.
Employees may become less motivated if they do not receive feedback on their progress.
Explain how a manager could use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to motivate an employee who feels insecure about their job.
The manager could provide job security and reassurance about continued employment, helping satisfy the employee’s safety needs and potentially increasing motivation
Give one reason why a business should manage the termination phase effectively.
To meet employee entitlements, manage transition issues or reduce legal risks.
Why might a pay rise fail to motivate an employee whose main concern is career development?
Their higher-level needs may be more important to them than additional pay. They might already be secure and require non-financial forms of motivation.
Employees fear losing their jobs after major staff cuts. Which drive is being threatened, and why?
Defend, because employees want to protect themselves from threats and feel secure.
Give one reason how applying Locke and Latham may result in reduced employee motivation.
Goals may cause stress or frustration if they are unrealistic or employees lack the skills and resources to achieve them.
A retail business sets a target of 20 sales per week and provides weekly feedback. Which motivation theory is being used?
Locke and Latham’s Goal-Setting Theory.
Name two methods of performance appraisal.
Essay/journal, critical incident or criteria-based appraisal.
Outline two strengths and two weaknesses of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
Strengths
Easy to understand and apply
Recognises different employee needs
Helps businesses choose appropriate motivational strategies
Considers higher-level needs
Can improve job satisfaction
Supports employee wellbeing
Weaknesses
Not all employees have the same needs
Needs may not follow a strict order
Difficult to identify employee needs
Meeting needs can be costly
Does not guarantee improved performance
Needs can change over time
Limited consideration of external factors
Oversimplifies human motivation
A business offers bonuses but employees still feel isolated and have few learning opportunities. Explain why motivation may remain low.
Bonuses address the acquire drive, but the bond and learn drives remain unmet.
Explain how feedback contributes to the effectiveness of Locke and Latham’s Goal-Setting Theory.
Feedback allows employees to assess their progress towards achieving goals and identify areas for improvement, helping them adjust their efforts and improve performance.
A business introduces bonuses, team-building activities, training and job security measures. Which theory supports addressing all four drives?
Lawrence and Nohria’s Four-Drive Theory.
Explain how effective performance management during the maintenance phase can influence the termination phase of the employment cycle.
Performance management can identify and address underperformance through feedback and training, potentially reducing the need for dismissal. If performance does not improve, it may contribute to termination.