Describe and compare the basic contributions of Maslow and Herzberg to the understanding of worker motivation

Contributions of Maslow and Herzberg to the understanding of worker motivation

The fundamentals of the Maslow’s theory deals with the human needs as well as their satisfaction while the theory of Hertzberg is assume the implication of motivators for growth. Maslow’s theory represents the hierarchy of human needs for moving on level of motivation. Maslow elaborates the five steps of human needs to enhance the motivation of employees while Hertzberg refers to motivating factors and hygiene factors for employee’s motivation (Mark, 2014).

Hygiene factors show dissatisfaction while motivating factors enhance the motivation level of the employees. Out of the two theories, the theory presented by Maslow is acceptable widely. On the other hand, the theory presented by Herzberg’s just show an extension of Maslow’s theory and is narrowly implemented. Maslow’s theory is expressive while the theory of Herzberg’s is authoritarian in nature (Mark, 2014). Maslow theory shows that the lower level needs also act as motivators for employees while the Herzberg shows that only higher level needs act as motivators rather than lower level needs.