Answer
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs continues to be widely popular and mostly well-accepted, but the available evidence does not necessarily support Maslow’s theory. “Maslow’s need hierarchy theory presents the student of work motivation with an interesting paradox,” Wahba and Bridwell wrote. “The theory is widely accepted, but there is little evidence to support it.”
- In their review of the available research, Wahba and Bridwell found that there was little empirical support suggesting that needs exist in a hierarchy at all.2
- Maslow’s theory also does not account for differences between individualist and collectivist cultures.
- Other critics have also suggested that the original hierarchy does not account for the fact that needs tend to change based on the situation.
Comparison of Maslow and Herzberg’s Theory of Motivation shows the similarities and differences between the hierarchy of needs and two-factor theory. Maslow and Herzberg provided the most popular human motivation theories used in the workforce.
Similarities of Maslow and Herzberg Theory of Motivation
There is a great similarity between Maslow’s and Herzberg’s models of motivation.
A close examination of Herzberg’s model indicates that for those employees who have achieved a level of social and economic progress in the society, higher-level needs of Maslow’s model (esteem and self-actualization) are the primary motivators.
However; they still must satisfy the lower level needs for the maintenance of the current state.
So we can say that money might still be a chief motivator for most of the operative employees and also for some low paid managerial people.
Herzberg’s model distinguishes the two groups of factors, namely, motivational and maintenance, and points out that the motivational factors are often derived from the job itself.
Most of the maintenance factors come under comparatively lower-order needs and motivational factors are somewhat equivalent to higher-order needs.
Both models assume that specific needs energize behavior.
Although there are marked similarities in the two models, many differences exist which are shown in the following way:
Differences Between Maslow and Herzberg Theory of Motivation;
