Content and Process Theories of Motivation



Content and Process Theories of Motivation

Introduction

This paper intends to expound the content and process theories of motivation and to what extent are existing content and process theories of motivation relevant to considering how workers in today's work environment can be effectively motivated. In short, this study explicitly and critically considers that whether these theories are applicable to motivate workers or not. The term motivation is basically derived from the Latin word 'movere' which means to move. Hence, it signifies that the motivation is the driving force which stimulates the person towards something or which causes the arousal and voluntary effort to pursue a goal. Therefore, the theories of motivations are concerned to highlight the fact how human behaviour is activated. Motivation is the most widely discussed topic pertinent to the job satisfaction and performance. According to Rosenfeld and Wilson (1999) that motivation is the feeling of fulfilment, contentment, and desire for the self development. This is most undeniable and significant issue for the managers and leaders to keep the employees motivated and satisfied. Moreover, the motivation theories are the most frequently studied topics in the organizational sciences to understand the organizational behaviour. The term motivation has been defined by numerous researchers in different formats and ways as according to Stephen Robbins (2000) that motivation is the process which is fundamentally concerned with the individuals' intensity, direction, and the diligence of efforts with the intention to achieve the desired objectives. However, the psychologists have put forward their views that human beings are programmed in some certain ways where they are dependent up on the behavioural cues to which they are exposed. According to Steers et al. (1996) that there are different behavioural cues of human beings which are based on the differences in individual motivation where some people are motivated with the intrinsic drives and some from the extrinsic drives. However, it is also said that some behaviours are the consequence of the past behaviour. Therefore, these theoretical streams are based upon two classifications of motivation which include the content theories of motivation and the process theories of motivation.

Discussion

The motivation has the integral position in the organizational settings as it leads towards the higher rates of productivity, increased quality, and overall improved performance pertinent to organization (Mullins, 1999). Since the prime factors and components of organizational life which happen to impact the motivation of the employees are either characterized as intrinsic drives or extrinsic drives which include pay levels, job satisfaction and security, incentives, working conditions, and level of communication within the organization. Hence, it is proved that the motivation is the driving force which activates the behaviour of people and keeps them on the track towards the attainment of goals (Romando, 2007).

The motivation theories have been classified broadly in to the two perspectives that are content theories of motivation and the process theories of motivation. Each of the theory attempts to define the concept of the motivation ...