CH 14 Writing Assignment

 Activity Objectives

This activity is designed to support the following Learning Objectives:

1. Define motivation, and distinguish direction and intensity of motivation.
2. Describe a content theory of motivation, and compare and contrast the main content theories of motivation: manifest needs theory, learned needs theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Alderfer’s ERG theory, Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory, and self-determination theory.
3. Describe the process theories of motivation, and compare and contrast the main process theories of motivation: operant conditioning theory, equity theory, goal theory, and expectancy theory.
4. Describe the modern advancements in the study of human motivation.

 Instructions: Writing Assignment

Happy workers can lead to happy customers, and happy customers lead to successful businesses. On the other hand, unhappy workers are likely to leave. When that happens, the company usually loses more than an experienced employee. It can also lose the equivalent of six to nine months’ salary to cover the costs of recruiting and training a replacement. Other costs of losing employees are even greater: loss of intellectual capital, decreased morale of remaining workers, increased employee stress, increased employee gossip, decreased customer service, interrupted product development, and a poor reputation. Although it is costly to recruit and train new workers, it’s also expensive to retain those who are disengaged.

Employee retention is a critical issue as companies compete for talent in a tight economy. There are various ways companies can increase retention rates, one of them is to offer the right benefits and perks. Benefits and perks play a large role in keeping employees happy, engaged and healthy. But benefits can go far beyond healthcare coverage, paid sick leave, or offering stock options or other financial awards for employees who exceed performance goals or stay with the company for a predetermined time period. Companies are getting increasingly creative with the benefits and perks they offer employees. However, the reality is that many small companies cannot afford to offer both money and interesting or flexible benefits to motivate employees and reward excellent work.

Questions...

1. Beyond the basic wages, are employee benefits really necessary? Why?
2. Which reward do you believe is more motivating for employees, bonus money or other benefits?
3. If you were designing a benefits plan to motivate employees, what benefits would you include? Is there a company that utilizes these benefits? If so, are they successful in attracting quality employees?
4. Think about what motivates you. What kind of benefit or perk would you like an employer to provide to you as an employee or potential employee? Explain why.
5. Pretend I am your boss and you are my employee. I give you the opportunity to make a proposal to me regarding a benefit/perk that you want me to provide to you. So, write a proposal and explain to me why I should approve it. Be reasonable! And most importantly, convince me to approve your proposal!

Instructions: Read the questions carefully and provide thorough, well thought out answers. Provide justification for ALL your answers, even if the questions do not ask “Why?”. If you make assumptions, state and explain the assumptions made. Use the textbook and/or any research tool to support EACH answer. Please disclose names, titles, links, etc. of sources used. Use full sentences and paragraphs.

Length: The combined answers should be a minimum of 450 words in length. Note that your name, date, class, headings, and works cited page do NOT count towards the minimum length requirement. You may exceed the minimum length requirement.

Formatting: Size 12, Courier New font; 1.5 space per line; Standard margins. At least two points will be deducted from your score if you fail to follow formatting guidelines.

 Grading 

This assignment is worth 20 points.

Please see the grading rubric.

Note, plagiarized assignments will receive a score of 0.

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