Concept, Process & Importance of Motivation

Concept of Motivation

Motivation is a human factor in management. A manager feels some sort of challenge to motivate the people in their respective job because this motivation relates to that internal force which directs the people to act in a particular way to get something or satisfy their needs. From the previous study, we learn that a manager gets work done through others. To get the work performed is not an easy task. A manager has to make the people work as per the direction was given to him. But the question is why people work? Why they behave as they do? What motives may direct people to behave in a particular work?

The term motivation is derived from the English word- Motive, and it is borrowed from the Latin word – “Movere: The meaning of “Movere” is to move. Motives mean the drives, needs, desires, wants or impulses within the individuals.

According to Dale S. Beach, "Motivation can be defined as a willingness to expend energy to achieve a goal or reward."

According to Harold Koontz and Heinz Weihrich, "Motivation is a general term applying to the entire class of drives, desires, needs, wishes."

Process of Motivation

1. Need:
   The motivation process starts with needs or expectations. If employees have no need or expectation they cannot be motivated. Employees run to address or to solve the need or expectation. The need for expectation is a very important process of motivation. Managers of the business organization must pay proper consideration towards the needs and expectations of employees. Food is a relevant example of it.
   
   
2. Drive/ Action:
   The drive is action-oriented. After the expectation, people seek a job. The action is needed to address the need or expectations. Without action, employees cannot solve food problems. Thus, when the need occurs the people move for its implementation.
   
   
3. Incentives:
   An incentive is the last process of motivation. After having a job, employees should be provided for and competitive wages. It supports to solve and address the need or expectation. Employees come to an organization to sell their knowledge, skill, and labor. When they sell their labor, employees will get incentives.

Importance of Motivation

Motivation is important to both the organization and the individual. To achieve organizational goals, motivation has become very effective tools and a manager has to use this tool to motivate or inspire the staff member in their respective job in such a manner that they could work effectively and efficiently.

From the viewpoint of organization and individuals, motivation is important and plays a significant role and is also considered as an important determinant of performance. Following are some of the importance of motivation:

1. Improvement in Cooperation:
   Due to effective motivation, the employees will be ready to cooperate in the succession of the organization. By extending positive cooperation, employees help the organization to achieve the goals in one hand and they also solve their problem/ get satisfaction on the other. Thus, prosperity on both sides can be observed well if the motivation is implemented within the organization in the true sense.
   
   
2. Higher Morale of Personnel:
   Motivation increases the work morale of the workers. The workers having higher morale are asserted as the assets of the organization. A motivated employee can contribute to the organization by lowering the turnover rate and absenteeism. Higher turnover and absenteeism create many problems in the organization and affect their reputation adversely. Motivation helps to bring these rates lower.
   
   
3. Utilization of Factor of Production:
   Human resources are one of the important resources and if this resource is utilized properly then only other factors can be utilized properly. Motivation makes the human resource (employees) work sincerely and performing/completing the task efficiently. If employees work efficiently then only there will be a possibility of utilizing other factors of production properly and that too in maximum. Hence, motivation helps to utilize the factor of production in a managerial way.
   
   
4. Higher Productivity:
   With the help of motivation, an organization can attain a higher level of productivity because by motivating the subordinates, a manager can induce them to work efficiently, it will help the organization to increase total production and productivity. If the workers are induced with a variety of motivating techniques, the inherent qualities can be developed and thus be used for the prosperity of the organization and subordinates as well.
   
   
5. Best Remedy for Resistance to Change:
   The sign of development changes in work and work techniques. The changes in organization and it's working styles are the usual phenomenon because of organizational changes in its production technology, marketing process and even due to environmental changes, many changes occur in the organization. When any changes occur in the organization, the workers may not be happy, feel discomfort, assume insecurity and show their disagreement and protest against such change. But if they are properly, timely and tactfully motivated and managers give knowledge and inspiration, they will accept the change even more enthusiastically.
   
   
6. Healthy Industrial Relation:
   Motivation creates healthy industrial relations within the organization. The relation between management and trade unions will be very friendly. There will not be any conflict between the management and trade unions with the help of motivation. So, motivation provides a healthy relationship in the industrial field too.
   
   
7. Realizing Organizational Goals:
   Motivated employees develop a feeling of total involvement in the task of organization and work wholeheartedly for the realization of organizational goals. The employees should give more focus on the organizational goals while motivating them. So, motivation helps to realize the organizational goals of the employees.

References

Sharma, P., Shrestha, A., Pant, H., Gautam, I., Thapa, R. B., & Upadhyay, P. (2011). Buddha Publication.

Poudyal, Santosh Raj et.al., Business Studies-XII, Asmita Book Publication, Kathmandu

Bhandari, Kedar Prasad, Business Studies-XII, Bundipuran Prakashan, Kathmandu