Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Human resource management - Essay Example However, other forms of motivations discussed in this essay enable companies to increase their productivity. Motivation refers to any incentive or force that seeks to develop, direct and sustain behaviours of employees (Perkins & White, 2011, ch.6). The first theory that seeks to explain how employees are motivated in the workplaces is the expectancy theory. This theory also explains the relationship between pay and performance in the workplace. Expectancy theory is based on the notion that employees consciously choose options that maximize pleasure and minimize pain. In the workplace, this is evident by employees working hard in order to have a better life and lifestyle (Thompson, 2009, p130). Expectancy theory correlates efforts and performance; employees will perform according to expectations in order to achieve rewards (Marsden, 2004, p16). The reward helps the employee to satisfy his or her needs. The satisfaction gained from the reward makes the work worthwhile. According to this theory, the employees have a choice while doing their work (Marsden, 2004, p17). The goal setting theory, on the other hand, emphasizes more commitment rather than incentives as the prime motivation for employees. The theory suggests that employees work harder if they are committed to attaining their individual and company goals (Thompson, 2009, p130). The goals increase the effort and performance of the employees. The goal setting theory is often complimented by, to some extent, the use of incentives. The incentives should be because of the employees setting their own goals (Grimshaw & Ribery, 2010, p361). Moreover, the goals should be attainable and realistic and not far-fetched (Marchington, Mick & Wilkinson, 2008, p47). The manager’s task, while adopting this motivational theory, is to achieve balance between the set goals, the difficulty and challenging nature of the goals and the incentives for completion of the goals (Kessler,