Early Theories of Motivation
Three theories of employee motivation formulated during the 1950s are probably the best known. Although they are now of questionable validity (as we’ll discuss), they represent a foundation, and practicing managers still use their terminology.
Hierarchy of Needs Theory
The best-known theory of motivation is Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,2 which hypothesizes that within every human being there is a hierarchy of five needs. Recently, a sixth need has been proposed for a highest level—intrinsic values—which is said to have originated from Maslow, but it has yet to gain widespread acceptance.3 The original five needs are:
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