IB Business 2.4 motivation theories
Exam Questions and Answers
Maslow - ANSWER-He focused on psychological (emotional and mental) needs of
workers as he believed that people are motivated not just only by money. He thought
that people would need to be satisfied with their lower level of needs before they could
progress to higher level needs.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs - ANSWER-1. Psychological needs
2. Security needs (safety needs)
3. Social needs (love and belonging needs)
4. Esteem needs (ego needs)
5. Self- actualisation
Psychological needs - ANSWER-They refer to needs that must be met for people to
survive, such as food, water etc. In business, they refer to the level of pay and the
working condition. (the level of pay determine whether the workers will be able to meet
the basic needs or not)
Security needs (safety needs) - ANSWER-They are demands that make people feel
safe and stable. This includes predictability (daily structure and routines) and order
(protection from human). Business can provide job security, sick pay, maternity leave
and pensions(retirement fees).
Social needs (love and belonging needs) - ANSWER-They refer to human desire to be
accepted as part of a friendship group or a family. In business, it means the opportunity
to work in teams and compliance with antidiscrimination laws that help promote a sense
of worth and belonging at work.
, Esteem needs (ego needs) - ANSWER-They refer to the desires for recognition and
self- respect. Internal esteem needs indicate that people need to feel good about
themselves, sense of achievement. External esteem needs represent the desire for
recognition by others, such as having status at work, position.
Self- actualisation - ANSWER-It refers to the forces that drive people to become the
best that they can be. Business can enhance this by providing opportunities for personal
development and promotion, such as training and challenges that help reach the
potential and self-fulfillment.
Herzberg - ANSWER-He investigated the factors that caused satisfaction and
dissatisfaction at work. He focused on sociological and psychological aspects of the
work. His research indicates the factors that affect the level of motivation in the
workplace which is hygiene factors (physical aspects) and motivator (psychological
aspects). He believed that company should use a democratic leadership style. He also
suggested that managers could motivate workers by using non-financial rewards (job
enlargement---more variety of work, job enlargement---complex and challenging works,
job empowerment---delegate power)
Herzberg's two factor theory - ANSWER-1. Hygiene factors (do not motivate workers
but must exist in the workforce)
2. Motivators (factors that can lead to psychological growth)
Hygiene factors (maintenance factors) - ANSWER-They are aspects of work that do not
motivate but must be met to prevent dissatisfaction. (They do not motivate the works but
should exist at workplace). Herzberg argued that an increase in wages does not
motivate the employee as he/she will expect the rise again in the future.
Hygiene factors (cause of dissatisfaction) - ANSWER-1. Organisational policies, rules,
and regulations
2. Relationship with peers, subordinates, supervisors etc.
3. Pay- salaries and wages
Exam Questions and Answers
Maslow - ANSWER-He focused on psychological (emotional and mental) needs of
workers as he believed that people are motivated not just only by money. He thought
that people would need to be satisfied with their lower level of needs before they could
progress to higher level needs.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs - ANSWER-1. Psychological needs
2. Security needs (safety needs)
3. Social needs (love and belonging needs)
4. Esteem needs (ego needs)
5. Self- actualisation
Psychological needs - ANSWER-They refer to needs that must be met for people to
survive, such as food, water etc. In business, they refer to the level of pay and the
working condition. (the level of pay determine whether the workers will be able to meet
the basic needs or not)
Security needs (safety needs) - ANSWER-They are demands that make people feel
safe and stable. This includes predictability (daily structure and routines) and order
(protection from human). Business can provide job security, sick pay, maternity leave
and pensions(retirement fees).
Social needs (love and belonging needs) - ANSWER-They refer to human desire to be
accepted as part of a friendship group or a family. In business, it means the opportunity
to work in teams and compliance with antidiscrimination laws that help promote a sense
of worth and belonging at work.
, Esteem needs (ego needs) - ANSWER-They refer to the desires for recognition and
self- respect. Internal esteem needs indicate that people need to feel good about
themselves, sense of achievement. External esteem needs represent the desire for
recognition by others, such as having status at work, position.
Self- actualisation - ANSWER-It refers to the forces that drive people to become the
best that they can be. Business can enhance this by providing opportunities for personal
development and promotion, such as training and challenges that help reach the
potential and self-fulfillment.
Herzberg - ANSWER-He investigated the factors that caused satisfaction and
dissatisfaction at work. He focused on sociological and psychological aspects of the
work. His research indicates the factors that affect the level of motivation in the
workplace which is hygiene factors (physical aspects) and motivator (psychological
aspects). He believed that company should use a democratic leadership style. He also
suggested that managers could motivate workers by using non-financial rewards (job
enlargement---more variety of work, job enlargement---complex and challenging works,
job empowerment---delegate power)
Herzberg's two factor theory - ANSWER-1. Hygiene factors (do not motivate workers
but must exist in the workforce)
2. Motivators (factors that can lead to psychological growth)
Hygiene factors (maintenance factors) - ANSWER-They are aspects of work that do not
motivate but must be met to prevent dissatisfaction. (They do not motivate the works but
should exist at workplace). Herzberg argued that an increase in wages does not
motivate the employee as he/she will expect the rise again in the future.
Hygiene factors (cause of dissatisfaction) - ANSWER-1. Organisational policies, rules,
and regulations
2. Relationship with peers, subordinates, supervisors etc.
3. Pay- salaries and wages
