Introduction
What is an Empowerment ? Basically empowerment means giving the employee the ability to do their work, i.e. through the right training, the right environment, the right information, the right tools and the authority that they need.
It is thought that by giving the employee increased power and responsibility that the employee will have increased motivation.
Organisations have developed a number of new programs in which it is hoped that employees will have empowerment and so increased motivation.
What is an Empowerment Program ? There are six different forms of empowerment programs.
i. Pay for Performance. This gives employees rewards in relation to their performance on the job.
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Motivation Theories
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: This theory shows that humans are motivated by a series of needs which are in an hierarchical order, i.e.
1.Self Actualisation
Needs
2.Esteem Needs
3.Social Needs
4.Safety Needs
5.Physiological Needs
1. Self Actualisation is basically the feeling of self fulfilment, i.e. reaching your ambitions.
2. Esteem Needs is the respect of friends, family and people around you.
3. Social Needs are having friends and family around you.
4. Safety Needs. This is the feeling of having a safe environment around you, i.e. no threat of war, pollution, violence, etc.
5. Physiological Needs are having basic survival needs such as food, water, clothing and shelter.
Maslow states to progress to each level you must fulfil the levels below it and that the lower levels take priority.
McGregors Theory. This is the theory that there are two different types of worker, Theory X and Theory Y.
Theory X’s characteristics are that of a dislike for work, unambitious and works only for money.
Theory Y’s characteristics are that they enjoy their work, looks for promotions and is generally ambitious.
Financial compensation in an empowerment program works
Theory X and Theory Y were created by Douglas McGregor. Theory X has 8 points that include: productive enterprise is under the control of management, with regards to people, this is an attempt to control their efforts, to motivate them, controlling their actions, and changing the way they act, and if this is not done, people will docile and resist the needs of the organization and the every day man does what he can to work as little as possible. Theory X also says the every day man is not ambitious, does not like responsibility, would rather follow than lead, is self-centered, does not like for things to change, is very gullible, and not very bright. Theory X represents the
Theory Y, adopts the participative management style, which operates on the idea that people are inherently motivated to work if they find the job fulfilling
Empowerment is an important tool for progression and FWD needs to exercise it often when expecting employees to work together towards a global objective. Empowerment can be defined as providing employees the chance to exercise autonomy in making decisions (Vogt, 1997), which is rarely implemented at FWD.
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist and at the forefront of the humanist movement in psychology, proposed a theory concerning basic human motivations that are based upon a hierarchy of needs. (Boeree 1998, 2006) Often described or pictured as a pyramid, basic physiological drives like thirst, hunger and sleep, as well as the need for safety, shelter and some feeling of security are the motivational needs that occupy the bottom tiers of the pyramid.. They provide the foundation for higher levels of needs to become present and available that the individual is aroused or driven to attain. Once those physiological and safety needs are met then the individual looks to love and be loved, to belong
Theory X & Y was officially expounded (and named) by Douglas McGregor, a social psychologist at MIT in the 1960s. His idea was that there are two fundamentally different styles of management. Theory X is an authoritarian concept where one assumes that individuals work reluctantly, without motivation. On the other hand, Theory Y is a libertarian concept where one assumes that people will perform beyond their duties if they are motivated and are dedicated to the overall goals set forth for them.
Reduced employee turnover. Employees often leave because they feel not valued. Empowerment increases employees value, understanding their role in company’s success. They are motivated
Maslow’s theory of motivation is called the “hierarchy of needs”. Maslow believes that people have five main needs in the following order of importance;
Empowerment is the best way to promote a good long-lasting employee-customer relationship (Fragoso, 1999). Empowerment can also bring certain benefits to employees of an organization. It makes the employees give more input to company improvements; it promotes higher productivity, and is a good balance between their personal and professional lives. It exercises employees’ minds to find better solutions to problems on the job and increases the employees’ potential for promotions and job satisfaction. It results in personal growth, feelings of confidence and control in themselves and their companies. It makes workers utilize their potentials and it enables them to stand behind their decisions, assume risks, participate and take actions. It is a win-win-win situation: customers benefit from employees, organization benefit from the employees and the customers, and employees benefit from higher confidence and self-esteem (Fragoso, 1999).
284). Before an employee can begin to feel empowered, an open and safe environment must already be established. Employees must be given the freedom to make accountable decisions and encouragement to make these decisions. Some types of encouragement that can be provided to the employees are recognition, assured feedback, and guidance/support (Yoder-Wise, 2015). Empowered staff strive to obtain goals and provide quality service.
What motivates people to work? Money may be the primary reason, but beyond a certain limit it fails to. Organizations have been trying out different things to increase the level of motivation of its employees. Employee empowerment is one of them.
On the other hand, here comes to the theory Y. On the contrary, it based on positive assumptions, and also more positive view of workers and the possibilities that create. For instance, they assumed that employees are ambitious, self-motivated and anxious to accept greater responsibility. Employees exercise self-control, self-direction, autonomy and empowerment, also exercise creativity and become forward looking. So, once the managers are adopted this theory, they believes that people want to do well at work, have a pool of unused creativity and that the satisfaction of doing a job
We are probably all familiar with Abraham Maslow 's Theory of Hierarchical Needs; Psychological Needs, Safety Needs, Belongingness and Love Needs, Esteem Needs, Need to Know and Understand, Aesthetic Needs, and Self-Actualization Needs. And we probably all remember that according to Maslow 's theory, needs that are in the lower hierarchy must be at least partially met before a person will try to satisfy higher-level needs. Although ultimately our goal is to aid students in self-actualizing or becoming "all that one can be," they must first achieve the level of Need to Know and Understand.
Theory X assumes employees are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can and that they inherently dislike work. As a result of this, management believes that workers need to be
The X-Y theory is included in organization behavior. "Organizational behavior studies and identifies management activities that promote employee effectiveness through an understanding of the complex nature of individual, group, and organizational process." (Bateman, Snell). The X-Y theory says that there are two types of managers differentiating in management style. Theory X says the average employee dislikes working and if at all possible, would avoid working. Because of their nonexistent desire to work, management must apply force with threats of punishment to enable the employee to work towards organizational goals. Management must continually observe the worker to ensure they are doing as they are told. Theory Y says that people will willingly apply themselves in their work. They will apply self control and
Employee empowerment gives the organization the opportunity to get the information from employees that deal within the organization all day. The employees know what needs to be changed in order for things to run more smoothly. Showing management that employee empowerment can grow their business while at the same time making their employees feel valued is important.