Monday, April 28, 2008
Morale
Morale is a term primarily used from a military context, to denote the state of mind or spirit of group, particularly regarding discipline and confidence. It can also be related to satifasfaction, since low morale implies a state of dissatisfaction.
How do we look for signs of low morales? Here are some indications:
1. Low productivity maybe a sign of low morale but this may be due to other problems which hold a higher weightage.
2. High labour turnover may also be aign but do take into the account of the age structure of the workforce and other actors in natural wastage. Low turnover does not also neccsarily mean high morale; they may stay due to lack of other job opportunities in the job market.
There are many theories behind morale and two such theories are Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs depicts a pyramid which shows physiological needs as the bottom role followed by safety followed by social followed by ego and then self actualisation. At any one moment, one need is dominant and remains dominant until satisfied. Once satisfied, it is no longer a motivator and will then be replaced by a higher order need not yet satisfied. Every individual needs are different and a manager needs to identify subordinate's needs and provide the means to satisfy this needs. Take for an example a prostitute especially one that comes from a very poor family: Her main hierarchy of needs according to Maslow's would be to satisfy her physiological needs, to get her own shelter, food and earn money. No woman would wanted to sell their body unless that woman is insane. In order for the woman to sell them is when they are desperate for moeny and could not obtain it in any other ways and therefore, they sell tehir body.
However, there are criticisms to this theory. It is not the complete answer to motivate employees and satisfaction of needs are not the only factor, others like group allegiance, attitudes towards managers may exert stronger motivation. Some people may have very low aspirations, hence no motivation and hierachy of needs may not be applicable to creative people like musicians and artists.
Herzberg's two factor theory
Ferderick Herzberg revealed two distinct sets of factors: those who created satisfaction known as motivator factors and those who create dissatisfaction known as hygiene or maintenance factors. Herzberg also highlighted two basic needs of individuals:
1. The need to avoid unpleasantness. Hygiene factors satisfy this need.
2. The need for personal growth and fulfillment. Motivator factors satisfy this need.
Althought Herberg's model is simple and accesible, it has been critised on a number of grounds.
1. Empirical verifictaion and measuremtn of the claim that motivator factors increase productivity have been hard to find.
2. The research findings are context specific.
3. The original study was based on an inadequately small sample size to draw conclusion.
Hope that you would find this article useful.
More on Accounting in Business.
More on Management Accounting.
Morale is a term primarily used from a military context, to denote the state of mind or spirit of group, particularly regarding discipline and confidence. It can also be related to satifasfaction, since low morale implies a state of dissatisfaction.
How do we look for signs of low morales? Here are some indications:
1. Low productivity maybe a sign of low morale but this may be due to other problems which hold a higher weightage.
2. High labour turnover may also be aign but do take into the account of the age structure of the workforce and other actors in natural wastage. Low turnover does not also neccsarily mean high morale; they may stay due to lack of other job opportunities in the job market.
There are many theories behind morale and two such theories are Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs depicts a pyramid which shows physiological needs as the bottom role followed by safety followed by social followed by ego and then self actualisation. At any one moment, one need is dominant and remains dominant until satisfied. Once satisfied, it is no longer a motivator and will then be replaced by a higher order need not yet satisfied. Every individual needs are different and a manager needs to identify subordinate's needs and provide the means to satisfy this needs. Take for an example a prostitute especially one that comes from a very poor family: Her main hierarchy of needs according to Maslow's would be to satisfy her physiological needs, to get her own shelter, food and earn money. No woman would wanted to sell their body unless that woman is insane. In order for the woman to sell them is when they are desperate for moeny and could not obtain it in any other ways and therefore, they sell tehir body.
However, there are criticisms to this theory. It is not the complete answer to motivate employees and satisfaction of needs are not the only factor, others like group allegiance, attitudes towards managers may exert stronger motivation. Some people may have very low aspirations, hence no motivation and hierachy of needs may not be applicable to creative people like musicians and artists.
Herzberg's two factor theory
Ferderick Herzberg revealed two distinct sets of factors: those who created satisfaction known as motivator factors and those who create dissatisfaction known as hygiene or maintenance factors. Herzberg also highlighted two basic needs of individuals:
1. The need to avoid unpleasantness. Hygiene factors satisfy this need.
2. The need for personal growth and fulfillment. Motivator factors satisfy this need.
Althought Herberg's model is simple and accesible, it has been critised on a number of grounds.
1. Empirical verifictaion and measuremtn of the claim that motivator factors increase productivity have been hard to find.
2. The research findings are context specific.
3. The original study was based on an inadequately small sample size to draw conclusion.
Hope that you would find this article useful.
More on Accounting in Business.
More on Management Accounting.
Labels: accountancy, accountant in business, accounting, business accounting
what we could have been, 8:17 PM.
