Appropriate Motivational Theory For An IT Specialist Information Technology Essay

Appropriate Motivational Theory For An IT Specialist Information Technology Essay Introduction This report defines motivation and briefly analyses the content and process theories of motivation. It analyses and discusses the motivational theory relevant to information technology specialists. A fictitious case study is developed and the appropriate motivational theory is applied to address the problem in the case study. Literature Review Motivation is defined as â€Å"the cognitive, decision making process through which goal-directed behaviour is initiated, energised, and directed and maintained.†Ã‚   [ 1 ]   Luthans (1998) described motivation as â€Å"the process of stimulating people to action and to achieve a desired task.†Ã‚   [ 2 ]    Motivation is, therefore, the way that managers influence the employees’ behaviour so that they produce results in order to meet organisational goals. Motivation can be seen from two distinct but related perspectives: Goals – motivation is viewed in terms of desired goals of individuals and this is addressed by the content theories of motivation. Content theories focus on what motivates individuals and assumes that individuals have a set of needs or goals which can be satisfied through work. Thus, they are also referred to as ‘need theories.’   [ 3 ]    Decisions – motivation is viewed in terms of how an individual’s decisions affect their choice of goals. This is known as Process Theories of motivation which view the individual as an active decision-maker and the emphasis is on the actual process (method) of motivation.   [ 4 ]    The following are content theories of motivation: A. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – Maslow’s theory suggests that individuals have five types of needs, namely (in ascending order):   [ 5 ]    Physiological needs – needs that are essential for living e.g. food, water. Safety needs – people want protection against unemployment, seek comfort, shelter as well as being safeguarde d against unfair treatment. Affiliation needs – people seek attachment and a sense of belongingness and affection at work. Esteem needs – need for recognition, reputation, achievement and strength. Self-actualisation needs – Maslow defines this as â€Å"to realise your full potential and to become all that you can become.† D. McClelland’s theory of needs – McClelland measured people in three dimensions:   [ 6 ]    Need for Power (nPower) – individuals with a high need for power arouse strong emotions in them. They want to create an impact on others and make a difference in life. Need for Achievement (nAch) – individuals prefer tasks that are neither too simple nor extremely difficult but that challenge them to do their best. Need for Affiliation (nAff) – individuals that seek recognition and respect of others and wish to establish personal relationships with others. Herzberg’s 2 factor theory – Herzberg identified two sets of factors:   [ 7 ]    Hygiene factors provide job satisfaction (being content with your job) but not motivation to employees such as pay, supervision, security and working conditions. These are known as extrinsic factors as they are separate from the job itself. Motivator factor provides high levels of satisfaction, motivation and performance. It includes responsibility, achievement, growth and recognition. These are known as intrinsic factors as they stem from the job itself. The following are Process theories of motivation: J. Adams’ equity theory – This theory assumes that employees are motivated to act in situations which they perceive to be inequitable or unfair.   [ 8 ]   Thus, they are in a constant process of comparing themselves to other employees in terms of pay, terms and conditions etc.   [ 9 ]

Compare and contrast the Four Leader-centric Approaches Term Paper

Compare and contrast the Four Leader-centric Approaches - Term Paper Example As the paper declares  the person possessing these qualities is considered a leader. A leader has certain important leadership traits such integrity, self-confidence, intelligence and determination. Style in leadership signifies the behavior of the leader. The style of leadership focuses mainly on the activities and the ways of approaching them. However, the leader centric approaches assist in determining the styles of the leaders. These can also be regarded as the qualities or traits which are hidden in different leadership styles.This essay highlights that the common question that is often asked is that, is the leaders above the law or does the moral values that applies to all, also applies to the leaders? Immanuel Kant, suggested that according to the deontological ethics, morality binds every one which also includes the leaders. So it can be said that if Kant is right in his approach, the leaders cannot have a rule breaking attitude, and cannot appeal if he/she is regarded wron g. However, in spite of this if a leader engages in any unethical behavior is simply an unreasonable person. So reasons demand that every person has to act in one way including a leader. The golden rule is that, which Kant has suggested, that says that, we should treat everyone the way we want to be get treated by others.  This view is very much applicable for authoritative leaders, who must understand that he is not different but part of the same crowd.

Urban Planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Urban Planning - Assignment Example Sub-urbanization started after the end of the World War 2 when in the 1950s the federal government started issuing home mortgage insurance to those people who were willing to relocate to the outer limits of cities (Hall 74). In the 1960s, the government improved the transportation system by enhancing efficiency through the construction of interstate highways that helped connect the cities to the residential areas outside the city. Racial tensions in cities also contributed to the decentralization that occurred in cities, in recent times, high crime rates and deteriorating school standards in cities have led to more people to move away from the city (Hall 79). Urban planning is essential for proper implementation of infrastructure that is vital in providing support, for the numerous service industries, which are required to cater to the needs of those dwelling in urban centers. Politicians like mayors and governors, who control and manipulate the bureaucracies that determine the course of implementation of these policies influence policies that have to be formulated to guide these plans. Proper and adequate urban planning ensures that all present and future needs, of a town or city, are provided to ensure that there are no complications concerning space utilization and function. The role of an urban plan is to ensure the ability to cope with the dynamic aspects that are brought about by the passage of time. There are different categories of urban plans, which are specified by the time it takes to implement them. They include local development plans, which have details concerning their nature, and they take the shortest time of five years. A development plan takes ten years, and it serves to show the direction of a proposed project. A master plan is set for twenty years, and it is meant to account for the changes that happen along the way in a project (Hall 110). Kevin Lynch’s ideas are based on a psychological approach to urban area designs like towns and cities. Planners use their design ideas to act as a benchmark, guides, and inspiration when coming up with their own plans.