Motivation is the act or process of providing a motive that causes a person to take some action. In most cases, motivation usually comes from some need that leads to behaviors that result in some type of reward when the need is fulfilled (Buchbinder & Shanks, 2011). The importance of motivation is it can help improve employee performance, reduce the chances of low employee morale, encourage teamwork and instill a positive attitude during challenging times. The benefits of having a fully motivated staff are better productivity, lower levels of absenteeism, lower levels of staff turnover, improved industrial relations with trade unions, content workers give the company a good reputation, and improvements in product quality or customer service. The potential consequences of not having motivated staff are poor performance, dissatisfaction, poor customer service, and decreased revenue.
Extrinsic rewards are rewards that are given by another person. For example, an employee might receive a raise for all their hard work and dedication within the company. Intrinsic rewards are derived from within the individual. For example, employees feeling good about helping customers resolve problems (Buchbinder & Shanks, 2011). When it comes to extrinsic and intrinsic factors in contemporary theories, it shows us that in order to obtain significant motivation as a function to employee’s needs, employees need to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work. When an employer shows their employees appreciation, they