The Factors that Influence the Motivation of the Team Members.
E4: The Factors that Influence the Motivation of the Team Members
The main factors that influence the motivation of team members working in groups are listed below:
* Role title- this gives you a sense of importance. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the following way:
) The importance of each individual's role, which is indicated through their role title and is identified by the rest of the team members, gives them a sense of importance, which can motivate the team member because they can gain a sense of significance in the team.
* Success or failure- knowing that you are capable of accomplishing a task. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) Success is something which all of the team members want, this would drive the team members to work harder and complete the tasks set.
2) If a team member is unable to complete a task they may feel like a loser and feel unable to contribute to the business, this could halt any motivation that a team member had.
* Freedom of speech- the managing director allows the other team members to have their say in the business. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) With freedom of speech problems within the business can usually be resolved as everyone has a say in the running of the business. If everyone were given the freedom of speech then it would give a hint of cheerfulness, and therefore, motivation to the group.
2) Without the freedom of speech, conflict can occur as people have differing ideas and desires, which can clash to cause problems leaving problems unresolved.
* Freedom of choice- a choice of roles to manage. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) With freedom of choice, members of the group can feel less pressurised and uncomfortable as they would without, so they would then feel more motivated to participate in the running of the business.
2) As conflict can, yet again, occur due to differing ideas and desires. If everyone were given the freedom of choice then it would give a hint of cheerfulness, and therefore, motivation to the group.
* Enjoyment- enjoying the role undertaken in the business. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) They would enjoy participating in the business, which would increase their motivation and therefore add more effort to the running of the business.
2) If they didn't enjoy the role undertaken, they would not put in the effort into the business and would decrease their motivation.
* Working in a team and encouragement- the socialising and fun part and the help and motivation each member gives to each other. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) If there were no isolated members of the group and the group worked together as a team, there would be a decrease in motivation levels.
2) If there were isolated members of the group, the group would not be able to work together as a team and therefore decrease motivation levels.
* Profit- the amount of money that the team have made through the business. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the following way:
) Money may motivate the team members, as they will want to earn ...
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) If there were no isolated members of the group and the group worked together as a team, there would be a decrease in motivation levels.
2) If there were isolated members of the group, the group would not be able to work together as a team and therefore decrease motivation levels.
* Profit- the amount of money that the team have made through the business. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the following way:
) Money may motivate the team members, as they will want to earn something from the business.
* Negative or positive feedback- the lack of good communication and understanding. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) If our team members aren't communicating and understanding appropriately then it could cause friction between the relationships of the team members, giving team members a negative attitude to the work.
2) If our team members communicate and understand appropriately then it can strengthen the relationships between the team members, giving team members a positive attitude to the work.
* No support from school- the lack of help and support that is needed from the school. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) If no support is given from the school towards the running of our business for example, if the staff do not contribute by purchasing our products, then team members may feel let down or immature which will cause a decrease in motivation.
2) If support is given from the school towards the running of our business for example, if the staff does contribute by purchasing our products, then team members may feel a boost of confidence and an increase in motivation.
* Poor or good working conditions- a poor working place. E.g. poor weather conditions. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) If the working conditions are poor, members of our team may feel they are not performing to their maximum potential and this could decrease motivation levels.
2) If the working conditions are good, members of our team will feel they are performing to their maximum potential and this could boost their confidence and increase motivation levels.
* Lack of or great demand for the product- the shortage of customers wanting to purchase the product or the great demand for it. This could influence the motivation of the team members in our group in the two following ways:
) If there is a lack of demand for the product the members of out team may feel they are lacking in something, which could halt any confidence or motivation they had.
2) If there is a great demand for the product a boost of confidence and motivation will be produced.
I will now state which of the above factors influenced the motivation of the team members in my business.
Role title
This influenced the motivation of the team members in my business because the importance of each individual's role, which was indicated through their role title and was identified by the rest of the team members in my group, gave them a sense of importance, motivated each team member because they could gain a sense of significance in the team.
Success
Success was something which all of the team members in my group wanted, this drove the team members to work harder and complete the tasks set.
Freedom of speech
Francis D'Souza, the managing director, allowed the other team members to have their say in the business. With this, members of the group could feel less pressurised and uncomfortable as they would without it, so they then felt more motivated to participate in the running of the business.
Freedom of choice
We were given a choice of roles to manage from the managing director. With the freedom of choice, the members of our group could feel less pressurised and uncomfortable as they would without it, so they then felt more motivated to participate in the running of the business.
Enjoyment
We enjoyed participating in the business, as we were able to socialise and have the freedom of speech and choice, which therefore increased our motivation levels.
Working in a team and encouragement
As we are all members of a team for our business and at our college, we socialise on a regular basis. In our group there were no members' isolated meaning that we could all have fun and participate together as friends, which increased our motivation.
Profit
We were able to earn extra money from the business, which motivated the group to work harder for it.
Positive feedback
Our team members were able to communicate and understand appropriately and therefore strengthened the relationships between our team members, giving our team members a positive attitude to the work.
Support from school
The staff at the school were very helpful, as they helped with the cleaning process of the product and packaging and allowed us to sell the product within the sixth form centre.
Poor working conditions
The working conditions were poor, as the weather wasn't suitable for ice creams, which meant that members of our team felt they were not performing to their maximum potential as we could have sold extra products if the weather conditions were better, this therefore decreased are motivation levels slightly.
Great demand for the product
The demand for our product, despite the weather conditions, was great. We were able to sell many products to many awaiting customers.
Team Member's General Motivation Levels
Peter Gallagher: Sales Executive: My main motivational factors were:
* Working in a team. Because I was working with friends and I could socialise and stick to the assignment at the same time.
* Great demand for the product. This increased my motivation because we didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed to sell our product because of the amount of people wanting to purchase our product.
John Joyce: Financial Director: John's main motivational factors were:
* Positive feedback. John liked being able to speak to others about his and their tasks. This increased his motivation because he felt relaxed and confident about his role.
* Success. John craves success. This is because he was previously kept back a year at Wimbledon College for the lack of effort he produced when studying for his GCSEs. This increased his determination to complete the task.
Michael Fitzgerald: Head of Human Resources: Michael's main motivational factors were:
* Freedom of choice. This is because Michael did not want to be set with a task he was not familiar with for example, the Managing Director.
* Enjoyment. This also applies, because Michael enjoyed the role he chose.
Alex Whichelo: Marketing Director: Alex's main motivational factors were:
* Poor working conditions. This is because the weather wasn't suitable for ice creams, which meant that Alex felt he/we were not performing to our maximum potential, as we could have sold extra products if the weather conditions were better; this therefore decreased Alex's motivation level.
* Support from school. This is because the staff at the school were very helpful, as they helped us with the cleaning process of the product and packaging and allowed us to sell the product within the sixth form centre, where Alex could promote our product to his group of friends and to other pupils.
Francis D'Souza: Managing Director: Francis' main motivational factors were:
* His Role title. This title, managing director, gave Francis a good sense of importance, which boosted his confidence and motivation levels.
* Profit. As the profit was to be donated to the trip to India, which Francis was going on, this made him even more determined and motivated to obtain success.
Motivation theories
Over the years a number of motivation theories have been put forward that are of interest to people in outlining the sorts of approaches that can be used to motivate them in the workplace. Motivation is the levels of commitment individuals have to what to what they are doing. Workplace motivation is concerned with commitment to an organisation, its objectives and targets.
Much has been written about motivation, and intelligent organisations seek to win the commitment of employees by paying attention to motivation factors in the workplace.
Fredrick Taylor's 'Principles of scientific management'
Fredrick Taylor was associated with an approach entitled 'scientific management'. Taylor sought to stamp out what was referred to as 'systematic soldiering'-an organised attempt by groups of employees to work no harder than was necessary. He saw that employees didn't work to their potential. Jobs were broken down and fragmented to their most basic components in an extreme division of labour. This is can still be seen today in factories, etc. Our business included this approach, as all of team members and our manager were broken down into departments so that they all know exactly what they are doing and how they are doing it and can work to their potential.
Abraham Maslow's 'Hierarchy of needs of needs'
Maslow's theories are based on meetings people's needs in the workplace. The theory suggests that unsatisfied needs can lead to dissatisfaction.
Maslow identified a range of needs that were largely hierarchical in nature:
* Basic needs are for reasonable standards of food, shelter and clothing. These needs are covered in the workplace in the exchange of work for money.
o An obvious factor that is covered in our business.
* Security needs are also concerned with physical survival. In the workplace this can include physical safety and security of employment, etc.
o Equipment used in our business was safe for the team members and pupils to use.
* Group needs are concerned with an individual's need for affection and love. Organisations need to find ways of bringing individuals together.
o Our business consists of friends who study in the same college.
* Self-esteem needs are based on an individuals desire for self-respect and the respect of others. Recognising their achievements is very important.
o The member's of our group were able to access and recognize their performance and potential by looking at the amount of sales and custom.
* Self- actualisation needs are concerned with personal development and individual creativity to achieve one's full potential. In order to meet these at work, individuals need to be provided with the opportunity to use their creative talents and abilities to the full.
o In our business we each had the appropriate talents and tasks needed, and our business only lasted for a short period of time so there wasn't enough time for staff promotions.
Peter Gallagher E4 Business studies
