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Chapter 21

Motivation theories

2.1 Motivation theories

Motivation theories fall into two main groups.

Content theories Process theories

Ask the question ‘what’ are the things Ask the question ‘how’ are people
that motivate people? They are also motivated? They attempt to explain how
referred to as ‘need theories’ and individuals start, sustain and direct
assume that human beings have a set of behaviour and assume that individuals
needs or desired outcomes which can be are able to select their own goals and
satisfied through work. means of achieving those goals through
a process of calculation.
Content theories assume that everyone
responds to motivating factors in the Process theories change the emphasis
same way and that there is one best from needs to the goals and processes
way to motivate everybody. by which workers are motivated.

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