Herzberg Two Factor Theory and Major Critisms
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory
Frederick Herzberg’s (1959) is a behavioural scientist who proposed a two-factor theory or the motivator-hygiene theory. In his theory, Herzberg suggested that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction are caused by different and independent sets of factors. A study was conducted in which two hundred (203) accountants and engineers were interviewed. They asked open-ended questions which required them to recall times when they have felt either negative or positive at work as well as their reasons for having felt that way. Their job attitudes were analyzed and in an effort to understand what motivated and satisfied employees based on his findings the two-factor theory was established.
According to his theory, he found that when people are satisfied, they attribute their satisfaction to the work itself, while when people are dissatisfied with their jobs; they are concerned with the environment in which they work. There are some job factors that provide satisfaction to employees while others prevent employees from being dissatisfied. The traditional view states that if one is not satisfied then they are dissatisfied. However to Herzberg, satisfaction is not the opposite of dissatisfaction, there is either satisfaction or no satisfaction, there is dissatisfaction and no dissatisfaction (see Figure 1 below). Herzberg placed the job factors into two categories, these are hygiene and motivation. As per his findings there are certain characteristics of a job that contribute to satisfaction while there is a completely different set that led to dissatisfaction. He believed that job satisfaction is caused by a set of motivating factors, related to the nature of the job, achievement in the work, recognition and promotion opportunities. These motivators should promote persons to higher job performance; alternatively, job dissatisfaction is as a result of “the conditions that surround the doing of the job,” such as physical working conditions,
Frederick Herzberg’s (1959) is a behavioural scientist who proposed a two-factor theory or the motivator-hygiene theory. In his theory, Herzberg suggested that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction are caused by different and independent sets of factors. A study was conducted in which two hundred (203) accountants and engineers were interviewed. They asked open-ended questions which required them to recall times when they have felt either negative or positive at work as well as their reasons for having felt that way. Their job attitudes were analyzed and in an effort to understand what motivated and satisfied employees based on his findings the two-factor theory was established.
According to his theory, he found that when people are satisfied, they attribute their satisfaction to the work itself, while when people are dissatisfied with their jobs; they are concerned with the environment in which they work. There are some job factors that provide satisfaction to employees while others prevent employees from being dissatisfied. The traditional view states that if one is not satisfied then they are dissatisfied. However to Herzberg, satisfaction is not the opposite of dissatisfaction, there is either satisfaction or no satisfaction, there is dissatisfaction and no dissatisfaction (see Figure 1 below). Herzberg placed the job factors into two categories, these are hygiene and motivation. As per his findings there are certain characteristics of a job that contribute to satisfaction while there is a completely different set that led to dissatisfaction. He believed that job satisfaction is caused by a set of motivating factors, related to the nature of the job, achievement in the work, recognition and promotion opportunities. These motivators should promote persons to higher job performance; alternatively, job dissatisfaction is as a result of “the conditions that surround the doing of the job,” such as physical working conditions,
References: Allen, W. R., Gilmore, H. L. (1993). What do Managers Do? Fourth Edition. De Leon, E.B. (2005). Industrial Psychology. Motivation, Job Satisfaction and Job Involvement. Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., Snyderman, B.B. The Motivation to Work. Somerset, NJ: Transaction Publishers; 1993. Herzberg, F. (1987), “One more time: How do you motivate employees?” Harvard Business Review, Sep/Oct. 87, Vol. 65 Issue 5, p109-120. Motivation in the Workplace - Motivational theory: Herzberg’s two factor Theory. Retrieved from: www.bizhelp24.com/personsl/employment-and-development/motivation-in-the-workplace.html. July 2010.