MotivationEssay Preview: MotivationReport this essayIntroduction to the concept of MotivationAccording to Greenberg (1999) motivation is defined “as a process of arousing, directing and maintaining behaviour towards a goal.” Where directing refers to the selection of a particular behaviour; and maintenance refers to the inclination to behave with consistency in that manner until the desired outcome is met.
Motivation is therefore the force that transforms and uplifts people to be productive and perform in their jobs. Maximising an employees motivation is necessary and vital to successfully accomplish the organisations objectives and targets. However this is a considerable challenge to any organisations managers, due to the complexity of motivation and the fact that there is no ready made solution or an answer to what motivates people to work well (Mullins, 2002).
It is my intention in this essay to explore some issues around motivation and cite work based experiences to illustrate and substantiate any arguments or points of view.
Main BodyMullins (2002) classifies motivation into Intrinsic and Extrinsic types. Intrinsic motivation involves psychological rewards to enhance job satisfaction, such as the opportunity to use ones ability, a sense of achievement, receiving appreciation and positive recognition or being treated in a considerate manner (Mullins, 2002:P490). Such methods ensure employees are constantly motivated while being engaged in activities that are enjoyable and rewarding.
I was formerly employed by a supplier of automobile parts where in addition to using compensation as a means of motivation; they too were dedicated in ensuring their employees had maximum job satisfaction. This was achieved by giving autonomy in their job functions and assigning significant responsibilities, which allowed them to be involved in the decision making for their area of expertise. Pleasant working conditions and annual recognition of the Best salesman of the year and Best employee of the year, also enticed productivity and motivation.
On the other hand Extrinsic motivation is related to tangible rewards such as salary, fringe benefits, job security, promotions and conditions of work. (Mullins, 2002:P490). Therefore extrinsically motivated behaviours are those carried out to achieve some tangible rewards or compensation.
Once again my employers excelled in designing an ideal incentive system, in their effort towards employee motivation. They already offered very competitive wages, of course on the belief that the more positive the reward the more likely the employee will be highly motivated and the better the performance (Vroom, 1964). They later introduced a perpetual cash bonus scheme for the junior staff, where every year instead of bonuses being paid out, they would be retained in the companys employee fund. A bonus was typically a third of their net salary and with every completed year of service their bonuses would grow.
However if the employees engaged in activities detrimental to the organisations operations, such as pilfering, they would thus loose their accumulated bonus. This proved very effective in not only retaining employees but also motivating them to work towards and within the organisational parameters at maximum productivity. It also encouraged a sense of belonging and loyalty to the organisation.
Incentives in the form of issuing companys shares was never considered or offered. Perhaps the directors were of the opinion that it may have the draw back of not being specific enough to truly motivate the employee to work hard, stay in the organisation and also comply with company practices (Larcker 1983). I think however it was more to do with their fear of relinquishing ownership and the thought that the employee would reap the benefits, from their own selfless efforts and personal sacrifices over the years, to increase their share value.
As for the senior executives various other schemes were introduced depending on their value to the company and length of service. Some benefited from receiving family membership to Medical Schemes. This was a powerful retaining incentive as there was no free government health service in Kenya and often medical bills amounted to huge sums. Other senior executives had their childrens private school fees paid or were gifted with family holidays. These decisions were made by the Directors and mostly based on what was mutually beneficial and also cost effective for the company. The longest in service and the most valuable members, whose continued job satisfaction and productivity was necessary for the continued success of the organisation; such the Chief Accountant and General Manager, were honoured with family homes
The directors of the Medical Schemes of New York received the government’s funding when it opened in 1902. They went to work in one of the great urban centres in the United States, New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn and the surrounding suburbs to provide training and the support necessary for their business operations. The headquarters and the medical offices of the Department of Health, Department of Labor and the Department of Welfare were located at the end of the Avenue of the Hospital’s and the Hospitality Building, respectively. The Hospitality Building was in St James’ Hospital which also offered medical and dental care in its hospitals.
The Department of Social Welfare provided health care for people in crisis and could be found for free in many other branches of government.
The first Medical Schemes took an active part in the development of agriculture, fishing and the provision of food, medicine and medicine abroad.
Medical Schemes in the U.S. and Canada provided medicine, nutrition, dentistry, homeopathic medicines, medical services, dentistry, medicine with a view to working as farm assistants. The medical offices at the Department of Agriculture and the Medical Training Council were one of a network of over 25 different health centers in the United States. The American College of Dentistry opened at the Medical College of Illinois in 1903, which served as its primary hospital. The National College of Nursing was a special college which was also the Medical College and the National Institute of Child Health. It operated as a medical nursery and nursing home.
There was a great emphasis placed on education in the U.S.
Cultivation of healthy living was a high priority in the days of Gutenberg. This enabled everyone to have a good education
countermontry, but also to make the education in the medical profession more accessible. The most important school for this purpose was the Medical College of Michigan.
The College of Pharmacy became a great place to cultivate plants and to receive medical training – and was established in 1819 in St. Clair-Bluff, Michigan. The College was also established in Baltimore at the Hospital for Sick Children in 1903 where it became the first American Medical College.
The College was open to the public between 1822 and 1903
At the New York State Medical College, the first doctor in every patient’s family was received as a special doctor immediately after his arrival on the scene. The Medical College of New York had a great reputation as one of the world’s oldest centers of medical knowledge. In 1906, it was inaugurated by Dr. Frederick H. Keeler, and continued to be established for nearly a thousand years. Dr. William L. Ebyke and Doctor Robert W. McCallum were distinguished at the Medical College of Washington University.
Medical School had a distinguished reputation for attracting outstanding medical students
The first medical university in the United States was founded at the Hospital for Sick Children in 1904. It was made into a college at the University of Illinois in 1910, with more than twenty physicians under its faculty and more than a thousand students enrolled in medical schools throughout the country. It continued past the present century