Page 237 - DCOM102_DMGT101_PRINCIPLES_AND_PRACTICES_OF_MANAGEMENT

Unit 13: Motivation and Leadership

Maslow labelled the five hierarchical categories as physiological needs, safety and security Notes
needs, love (social) needs, esteem needs and the need for self-actualization.

Figure 13.1: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Need for self-
actualization,
need to realize one's
fullest potential
Esteem needs: Needs to achieve,
to gain competence, to gain
respect from others
Belonging and love needs-need to love and
be loved, need to affiliate with
others and be accepted

Safety Needs: Need for safety and security
Physiological Needs: Need to satisfy the basic biological needs for food,
water, oxygen, sleep and elimination of bodily wastes

Physiological needs are those required to sustain life, such as air, water, food and sleep. According
to this theory, if these fundamental needs are not satisfied then one will surely be motivated to
satisfy them. Higher needs such as social needs and esteem are not recognized until one satisfies
the needs basic to existence.
Once physiological needs are met, one's attention turns to safety and security in order to be free
from the threat of physical and emotional harm. Such needs might be fulfilled by living in a safe
area, medical insurance, job security etc.
Once a person has met the lower level physiological and safety needs, higher level motivators
awaken. The first level of higher level needs are social needs. Social needs are those related to
interaction with others and may include friendship, belonging to a group, giving and receiving
love etc.
After a person feels that they "belong", the urge to attain a degree of importance emerges.
Esteem needs can be categorized as external motivators and internal motivators. Internally
motivating esteem needs are those such as self-esteem, accomplishment, and self respect. External
esteem needs are those such as reputation and recognition.
Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow's motivation theory. It is about the quest of reaching
one's full potential as a person. Unlike lower level needs, this need is never fully satisfied; as one
grows psychologically there are always new opportunities to continue to grow. Self-actualized
people tend to have motivators such as truth, justice, wisdom and meaning.

While scientific support fails to reinforce Maslow's hierarchy, his theory is very popular, being
the introductory motivation theory for many students and managers, worldwide.

13.2.2 Theory X and Theory Y

One important organisational implication of the hierarchy of needs concerns the philosophies
and techniques that have a bearing on how to manage people at work. Douglas McGregor,
taking a cue on motivation from Maslow's need-based theory, grouped the physiological and

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