Motivation Theories - Alderfer - ERG Theory

 The ERG Theory was developed between 1961 and 1978, during which the theorist empirically tested data to hone the theory’s major tenets and published scholarly material (Alderfer,1989). According to Alderfer (1969) expanded Maslow’s basic needs and refined them into existence needs, relatedness needs, and growth needs (Figure 1.0). Alderfer proposed the ERG theory based on results of empirical studies to explain the relationship between satisfaction of needs and human desires (Yang 2011).

Existence needs

Existence needs include various forms of safety, physiological and material needs. Safety needs mainly refer to the prevention from fear, anxiety, threat, danger, tension, and so on. Physiological needs refer to an individual’s pursuit of satisfaction at the vitality level, such as leisure, exercise, sleep. Material needs refer to resources required for an individual’s living, including food and clothing (Yang 2011).

Relatedness needs

Relatedness needs are less concrete than existence needs, which depend on a relationship between two or more people (Ball,2012). Relatedness needs include senses of security, belonging, and respect. Sense of security involves the mutual trust of humanity (Yang 2011). People need significant relationships (with family, peers or top executives), love and belonging and they seek to achieve public fame and recognition (Reuben, 2017).

Growth needs

Growth needs are the least concrete in that their specific objectives depend on the uniqueness of each person (Ball,2012). Growth needs involve needs for self-esteem and self-actualization. The need for self-esteem refers to self-productive effects such as the ability to pursue, to seek knowledge, to achieve, to control, to build confidence, to be independent and to feel competent (Yang 2011).

Figure 1.0 Representation of Alderfer’s ERG Theory of human needs.

Source: (Johnstone,2013).

I work for a leading company which provides services and products related to Eye care and Optical needs, that company employees have opportunity to communicate their Relatedness needs with senior managers as well as company CEO via the “talk to chairman” Forum. Using this opportunity most of the employees are encourage to sort out their workplace and personal issues. It will be more effective in such a situation like this pandemic and economic crisis. As a Growth needs company will give trainings to employees with Leadership and Strategic management. With that most of the employees manage their life style and Job oriented tasks more efficiently.  In current pandemic situation company will ensure the Existence needs of all employees by giving all safety materials and Insurance schemes. If the organization fail to give good Physiological needs, result will be less performance and employee want be able to make much of contribution to the company.

 References

Alderfer, C.P., (1989). Theories reflecting my personal experience and life development. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 25(4), pp.351-365.

Alderfer, C.P., (1969). An empirical test of a new theory of human needs. Organizational behavior and human performance, 4(2), pp.142-175.

Ball, B.,(2012). A summary of motivation theories. [Online] Available from http://www.yourcoach.be/en/employee‐motivation‐ebook/ [Accessed 09^th April 2022].

Johnstone, P., Adamowicz, R., de Haan, F., Ferguson, B., Ewert, J., Brown, R. and Wong, T., (2013). Linking urban water management to urban livability. Water-Journal of the Australian Water Association, 40, pp.112-116.

Reuben, M. (2017) Theories of Motivation and Their Application in Organizations: A Risk Analysis. International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development [Online] Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.18775/ijied.1849-7551-7020.2015.33.2004. [Accessed 28 March 2022].

Yang, C.L., Hwang, M. and Chen, Y.C., (2011). An empirical study of the existence, relatedness and growth (ERG) theory in consumers selection of mobile value-added services. African Journal of Business Management, 5(19), pp.7885-7898.