FREE online courses on Motivation Defined - Herzberg s Theory of Motivation

 

According to this theory, there are two types of factors, which affect motivation. These factors are:

 

• Hygiene factors
• Motivators

 

Hygiene factors

 

The first groups of factors are called by Herzberg as extrinsic, hygiene, maintenance or job context factor: They relate to the environment and are external to the job. They include:

 

(i)                 company policy and administration

(ii)               technical aspects of supervision

(iii)              interpersonal aspects of supervision

(iv)             interpersonal relations with peers and subordinates

(v)              working conditions

(vi)             salary

(vii)           status

(viii)          job security

 

The presence of these factors does not cause motivation or positive satisfaction, though their absence cause dissatisfaction. They are, therefore, dissatisfiers and not motivators. They are surrounding physical, administrative and social environmental factors. Hygiene factors make up a continuum ranging from dissatisfaction to no dissatisfaction. These factors are necessary to maintain a reasonable level of satisfaction in employees. Since any increase in these factors will not affect employee's level of satisfaction, these are of no use for motivating them.

 

Motivators

 

The second class of factors are referred as intrinsic, job content or motivation factors or motivators or satisfiers. These factors include:

 

(i)                 achievement

(ii)               recognition

(iii)              responsibility

(iv)             advancement

(v)              growth

(vi)             work itself

 

Their absence does not cause dissatisfaction but their presence has an uplifting effect on employee's motivation they are intimately related with the job and not related to surrounding environment. These factors make up a continuum leading from no job satisfaction to satisfaction and therefore they can be used in motivating for higher output.