ONE MORE TIME : HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES?

Harvard Business ReviewFrederick HerzbergJan-Feb 1968

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Most Popular reprint in HBR history

• Re-run in HBR in Sep-Oct 1987• Re-run again in HBR in Jan 2003

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Motivation by “KITA”

•What is “KITA”

� Kick In The Ass

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Negative KITA• A push !• Motivation by punishment…..

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Negative physical KITA• E.g. Lashes…….not allowed in workplace!

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Negative psychological KITA• Threaten

subordinatesverbally……

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Positive KITA• A pull !• Motivation by reward

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Positive KITAExamples:1. Time off as reward2. Reducing time spend at work ( work life balance )3. Recreational programmes4. Cruises5. Pay increases / stock options / bonuses6. Incentives / compensations7. Benefits / health insurance / free food….

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Positive KITASensitivity & Human relations training �• Supervisors trained to be sensitive to the needs of subordinates

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Positive KITACommunication � Training programmes• Newsletter / publications• Annual performance reviews• Two-way communications• Democracy

in workplace

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Positive KITAJob Participation �• Communicate the importance of the job in the big picture

• Give achievement awards

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Positive KITAEmployee counseling �• Let employees unburden themselves psychologically

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Dissatisfaction vs Satisfaction13

Hygiene vs. Motivation• Hygiene reduces job dissatisfaction• Motivation increases job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is NOT the opposite of job dissatisfaction !

In other words, Hygiene = KITA

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Satisfiers• Job satisfaction & dissatisfaction at the same time( post graduate students where you love the work but the benefits are pits)

• No job satisfaction & no job dissatisfaction( Golden handcuffs where you hate the work but the pay is too good to leave )

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What’s wrong with KITA?• KITA motivates to avoid punishment• KITA motivates to get rewards• KITA is good for motivating animals but poor in motivating

people ( extrinsic )( Ever-increasing reward does not work ! )

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Herzberg’s alternative to KITA• Intrinsic and self sustained~ self-actualization !• Make the job itself a motivator

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Job loading

Avoid Horizontal job loading1. Add additional similar tasks2. Challenge by productivity goals3. Rotate the job assignment4. Remove difficult tasks / less challenging tasks to

promote greater productivity

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Job loadingVertical Job Loading1. Remove some control while retaining accountability2. Increase authority 3. Assign a complete task unit4. New & challenging tasks5. Allow specialization of

individual

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Sensory Ingredients of Job Enrichment20

Shareholder Service index in company experiment (3-month cumulative average)

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Steps for job enrichment1. Select jobs that can be enriched2. Select staff that can be motivated3. Brainstorm / nurture a client relationship

rather than hierarchical relationship4. Be willing to re-organize jobs5. Be prepare to endure initial drop in

performance for long term gain6. Screen to eliminate changes that involve

hygiene

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Steps for job enrichment7. Screen to eliminate horizontal loading8. Set up pilot groups9. Avoid “participation” by employees – job

content as motivators rather than purely Hawthorne effect

10.Expect some pushback from supervisors

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Thank you !

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