The Challenges in Motivating People

Introduction The motivation of workers is one of the top priorities for both managers and leaders. These professionals have to find ways of making employees more committed to the goals set by the organization. Yet, in many cases, they cannot cope with this task. This paper is aimed at illustrating the difficulties in motivating people at the workplace.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Challenges in Motivating People specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such a film as Office Space directed by Mike Judge (1999) can throw light on the challenges that can be faced by business administrators when they try to enhance employees’ commitment to their work. Moreover, these examples that are presented in this movie can be connected to various theories of motivation, for instance, equity theory of motivation, ERG (Existence, Relations, Growth) model and reinforcement theory of motivation. Overall, it is possible to arg ue that an individual can be sufficiently motivated if the work is relevant to his/her talents and interests. Moreover, empowerment is also critical for the internal motivation of an employee. In contrast, only by relying on rewards and punishments, a business administrator cannot engage workers. There are several pitfalls that should be avoided, for instance, continuous routine, excessive supervision, and failure to recognize the individual achievements of workers. Managerial problems explored in Office Space The film Office Space portrays the culture of an IT company called Initech in which bureaucratic rules and paperwork stifle every initiative of employees who just have to cope with daily routine. In many cases, they simply pretend to work. Peter Gibbons, who is the main character of this movie, is dissatisfied with his work experience. To a great extent, this discontent can be attributed to the excessive supervision that bears no relevance to his work (Judge 1999). For instan ce, he has to submit the same report to three managers, while he can summarize in several sentences the work that he did in the past. Moreover, one can mention that many of the managers use extremely evasive language in order to conceal the fact that they rely only on coercion as their source of power. For instance, Bill Lumbergh, who is the Vice President of the division says, â€Å"Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ahh, I’m also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too† (Judge 1999). He does not want to state directly that Peter will have to work over the weekend. Instead, he tries to sound very casually as though he does not coerce an employee.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This information is critical for understanding some of the main problems that affect this organization. It has to be admitted that a cinematographic work cannot be viewed as rig orous empirical evidence. Nevertheless, they can throw light on the emotions and motives of characters (Smith 2009). Moreover, in this way, one can illustrate the application of different managerial theories (Champoux 1999). It should be kept in mind that film-makers usually describe problems or situations that take place in real life. Moreover, one can use situations to test existing theoretical assumptions. Difficulties in motivating people and theories of motivation This movie can demonstrate to what extent different theories of motivation are applicable. For instance, one can look at the Reinforcement Theory of Motivation. This theoretical model is based on the assumptions that the behavior of an individual depends on the consequences that it produces (Cole 2004, p. 47). If it leads to positive outcomes, a person is more likely to repeat his/her previous actions. In this case, the positive outcome is the reward offered by the management. In turn, the threat of punishment can be viewed as a force that prevents employees from acting irresponsibly or carelessly (Williams 2011, p. 379). These are the main principles of this approach. Yet, this film contains several examples that run against this theory. For instance, Peter Gibbons decides not to work over the weekend, even though his manager asks him to do so. Additionally, he deliberately violates the dress code established in the company. The protagonist understands that this behavior can result in significant problems for him. For instance, he may be denied promotion or even fired. Nevertheless, he accepts this possibility. This case is important because it suggests that rewards and punishment are not sufficient for the task of motivating a person. This is the main issue that should be considered by business administrators who should not rely on the methods involve only rewards or punishments. They should remember that the threat of punishment does not always make a person become more productive. Moreover, he/she should find inherent value in his/her work. Reinforcement model of motivation is closely related to the equity theory that should also be discussed. This theoretical framework implies that a person is more likely to be motivated if he/she feels that the contribution is adequately compensated (Schermerhorn 2010, p. 366).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Challenges in Motivating People specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, according to this perspective, workers will not be willing to improve his/her performance if they believe that other people receive underserved rewards (Schermerhorn 2010, p. 366). This assumption is the main component of this model. Overall, the supporters of this theory pay close attention to employees’ perception and their assessment of the compensation system established in a company ((Schermerhorn 2010, p. 366)). The film Office Space is not aimed at examining this par ticular issue, but there are some interesting examples. For instance, one can mention such a character as Milton Waddams, who was fired because he did not bring any value to the company. In fact, he only passed information from one department to another (Judge 1999). However, due to a bureaucratic mistake Milton continued to receive paychecks virtually for nothing. The employees, who observed this situation, became less willing to work harder. Therefore, the principles of the equity theory should not be disregarded. Moreover, managers should remember that workers pay attention to the rewards given to others, even through this information does not affect the level of their material prosperity. So, absence of proper performance appraisal methods is a significant challenge that undermines the motivation of employees. Apart from that, one can take a look at ERG theory introduced by Clayton Alderfer. This theory is premised on the idea that an individual is concerned with three important aspects, namely existence, relatedness, and growth (Aswathappa 2005, p. 362). According to this model, people can be driven by the need to improve their physical existance. Therefore, they pay attention to such aspects of a job as compensation or healthcare benefits. Furthermore, they want to feel the sense of belonging to a certain group or community. This is why they attach importance to the corporate culture of a company. Finally, they are willing to fulfill their talents. So, they seek employment that offers them opportunities for professional growth (Aswathappa 2005, p. 362). In turn, managers can motivate employees by addressing each of these internal needs. To some degree, this theory can be supported by the examples from the film. In particular, one can mention that Peter Gibbons as well as other employees of Initech are very alienated from one another. They live in a very limited space of their cubicles (Judge 1999). Moreover, they are assigned only with routine tasks. Thi s is one of the reasons why they are not motivated to improve their performance. Moreover, it is possible to mention that the protagonist decides to work at the construction site. So, the interactions among employees have profound implications for their motivation. Furthermore, it is possible to mention humanistic theory of motivation. The supporters of this model argue that motivation is a person’s attempt to fulfill his/her potential (Wiseman Hunt 2008, p. 61). To a large extent, this theory places emphasis on the personal and professional growth of a person. According to this model, a person becomes dissatisfied if they cannot acquire or elaborate their skills.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In turn, managers can motivate workers by giving them challenging tasks that make people display their best skills. Certainly, rewards are also important for improving their performance. Peter Gibbons does not strive to achieve professional growth. However, his behavior can be partly explained by his unwillingness to work in a company that might be similar to Initech. Additionally, humanistic theory of motivation suggests that a person can lose motivation if he/she is continuously supervised (Hardina 2006, p. 7). To a great extent, Peter Gibbons also has to struggle with this supervision, especially when he has to submit countless reports to each of the managers monitor his performance. This problem is related to micromanagement which is so eloquently described in the movie. This issue means that a person is asked to concentrate on the minor details of a certain task, while its essential elements can be overlooked. For instance, Peter is constantly reminded that the title page of hi s TPS reports was not formatted properly. However, managers do not ask anything about the content of these reports. Conclusion Overall, this discussion indicates that there are several obstacles to effective motivation. First of all, business administrators should remember that monotonous task, which do not prompt employees to display their best qualities, can make them less willing to improve their performance. Furthermore, workers’ motivation can weaken significantly if their individual contribution is not properly valued. Lack of belonging can also be viewed as a factor that undermines the employees’ commitment to the goals of an enterprise. In turn, business administrators should concentrate on the following aspects: the development of workers’ professional skills their empowerment, team-building. Compensation is also an important tool that business administrators can apply to motivate employees. They should make sure that employees are properly compensate d for their contribution. Finally, one can say that the film Office Space throws light on the problems faced by bureaucratic organizations which are adversely affected by micromanagement and lack of cohesion. References Aswathappa, K 2005, Human Resource And Personnel Management, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, Delhi. Champoux, J 1999, ‘Film as a Teaching Resource’, Journal of Management Enquiry, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 206-217. Cole, G 2004, Management Theory and Practice, Cengage Learning EMEA, New York. Hardina, D 2006, An Empowering Approach to Managing Social Service Organizations, Springer Publishing Company, London. Judge, M 1999, Office Space. 20th Century Fox, Los Angeles. Schermerhorn, J 2010, Management, John Wiley Sons, New York. Smith, G 2009, ‘Using Feature Films as the Primary Instructional Medium to Teach Organizational Behavior’, Journal of Management Education, vol. 23. no. 4, pp. 462-489. Williams, C 2011, Effective Management: A Multimedia Appro ach, Cengage Learning, Boston. Wiseman, D Hunt, G 2008, Best Practice in Motivation and Management in the Classroom, Charles C Thomas Publisher, Boston. 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Sample Essay Questions For Evolution Courses

Sample Essay Questions For Evolution CoursesHere are the sample essay questions that you can use when you are taking an evolution class at your school. They may be helpful for students who wish to brush up on their knowledge on this subject.At this introductory biology class, we are going to discuss some examples of organisms that have changed the way humans live. One of these examples is an animal that has become extinct and is still around today. It has adapted its special features to live in the environment of a desert. How will you use the examples from the bio-systems of animals to demonstrate how evolution works?This course will begin with a major focus on ecological change and the gradual change of living beings to adapt to the changes. Now you might ask if there are any evolutionary scientists in the class. The answer is no. Evolution is an evolutionary process and will not rely on any scientific theory.Students who are interested in studying evolution might want to look into some of the sources of information that they can find. A good source for information is the book, 'Living Forever' by James Lovelock. He is an authority on climate change. If you are interested in the subject of environmental change, and the idea of living organisms changing over time, this book is the way to go. Another excellent book that discusses the life and ecology is 'Life's Great Interactions.'If you are interested in looking at an interesting fact about a process of evolution that has occurred in the world, you can do so by looking into this site. It has a variety of articles on this topic. The article 'Searching For Bigfoot' will give you an idea of how evolution has affected human societies and civilizations throughout the world. This will also give you an idea of how fast it is happening and how we might be able to slow it down. Students who are not as interested in looking at the past might be interested in looking at how the process of evolution has affected mankind. Consider how humans are affected by the principles of evolution such as our tendency to communicate and understand each other better. How have we altered the world through our actions and through our knowledge?Is there any other important fact about evolution that you can add to your science class? You can check out the links below to get ideas on how to answer this question. Start your own collection of articles and facts about the life sciences through the links below. You will be surprised at the knowledge that you can add to your class.