The people motivated Essay Example for Free

The people motivated Essay There are many different motivation theorists who each with there own theory as to the way people are motivated, but do people actually behave the way these theories tell us they do or are the people motivated by other things. Elton Mayo conducted some experiments in 1927-32 and found that better lighting equalled high productivity. He set up to groups of workers; these included a test group and also a control group. When he turned up the light in-group one, but not in the other productivity rose in both groups. While in further experiments he reduced the lighting to its original level and turned the lighting up in the other group productivity still rose in both groups. The experiments showed no correlation so Elton Mayo changed the variables within his experiment. Working with a group of women, the experimenters made a number of changes, rest breaks, no rest breaks, free meals, no free meals, more hours in the work-day / work-week, fewer hours in the work-day / work-week. Their productivity went up at each change. Finally the women were put back to their original hours and conditions, and they set a productivity record. The reason for this was that both groups were being consulted and workers developed cohesiveness as a social group. This was mainly due to workers sensing belonging and the UN-weighted desire for higher pay and the need for many to reach productivity targets. This showed that workers were motivated by the carrot and stick theory that people would be motivated by bonuses. An example of these ideas being used in business today is the Volvo plant in Uddevalla, opened in 1989, was designed to allow workers to work in teams of 8-10. Each team built a complete car and made decisions about production. It was found that the absenteeism rates at the Uddevalla averaged 8 per cent, compared to 25 per cent in their Gothenburg plant, which used a production line system. Proving that workers performed better when they felt belonging to a group. Frederick Taylor took a more scientific approach to the way he felt people were motivated, but just like many other theorists he believed people were motivated by money. He believed that if output could be linked to pay then output could rise. So piece rates were introduced, an idea that meant the higher your output the higher your wage would be. However at the time this wouldnt work as many businesses didnt have management and therefor the employees were not always sure of what to do, so Taylor recommended they should have managers to have control over the work of the employees and therefor make the business more efficient. This is also a carrot and stick but the workers would be motivated to get a greater wage.