One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees? (HBR Classic) (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition) [DOWNLOAD: PDF] (Digital)

by Frederick Herzberg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is an enhanced edition of HBR article R0301F, originally published in 1968 and republished in January 2003. HBR OnPoint articles include the full-text HBR article, plus a synopsis and annotated bibliography. The negative or positive KITA or "kick in the pants" approach to employee motivation yields short-range results and rarely generates any long-term actual motivation. Positive KITA in the form of raises and incentives reduces time spent at work, inflates wages and benefits, obstructs direct communication between line and management, and overemphasizes human relations. Employee counseling attempts to develop motivation when job participation does not work, but reveals little. These techniques fail to instill a self-generating motivation in workers. Factors that lead to job satisfaction are distinct from those that lead to dissatisfaction. Job content factors, such as achievement and responsibility, are motivators, whereas job environment factors are hygiene or KITA factors. Motivators are the key to satisfaction.

About the Author
Frederick Herzberg was distinguished professor of management at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and head of the department of psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His writings include Work and the Nature of Man and The Motivation to Work. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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• File Size: 281 KB
• Digital: 12 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business Review (March 3, 2009)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,142,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars People want interesting work, challenge and responsibility, February 11, 2003

By	Gerard Kroese (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Frederick Herzberg was Head of the department of Psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland when he wrote this Harvard Business Review-article in 1968. He currently is Professor of Management at the University of Utah.

In this article the author tries to answer one of the main questions in management: "How do I get an employee to do what I want?" There is the taditional method to get someone to do something is to administer a kick in the pants, or "KITA" as Herzberg terms it. He then discusses the different myths about motivation and explains how each of them only results in short-term movement. Based on results from various studies he concludes "that the factors involved in producing job satisfaction (and motivation) are separate and distinct from the factors that lead to job dissatisfaction." Or, in other words, "the opposite of job satisfaction is not job dissatisfaction, but, rather, no job satisfaction; and similarly, the opposite of job dissatisfaction is not job satisfaction, but no job satisfaction." This concept has an important impact on management: The growth or motivator factors are intrinsic to the job, while dissatisfaction-avoidance or hygiene factors are extrinsic to the job. Both factors are described in detail, with various tables and graphs explaining each. Herzberg provides us with ten steps for job enrichment, or principles to institute the motivator idea with their employees. But it is important to note that job enrichment is not a one-time proposition, it is a continuous management function.

Yes, this is a fantastic article on motivating employees. Herzberg explains in simple words that the things that make people satisfied and motivated on the job are different in kind from the things that make them dissatisfied. It debunks the traditional myths about motivation and explains that people are motivated by interesting work, challenge, and increasing responsibility. Highly recommended to all managers supervising people. The article is written somewhat old-fashioned business US-English.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true story of motivation, December 7, 2007

By	Robert Selden "Bob Selden, Author - What To D... (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees? (HBR Classic) (Digital)

How many times have you heard managers say "If only my people were more motivated"? Frederick Herzberg in his classic HBR article "One more time: How do you motivate employees?" has the answer.

This is another of the classic HBR articles and is arguably the most popular of all time - and for good reason. Herzberg simplifies the complex issue of employee motivation to two factors - the satisfiers (or hygiene) and the motivators. Both of which he stresses are important, but for very different reasons. Satisfiers include money, supervision and working conditions. While the motivators include achievement, recognition for achievement, responsibility, meaningful work and opportunity for personal growth.

It's interesting reading his advice again so many years after it was first written. The failed attempts by organisations at motivating people all those years ago as outlined by Herzberg, are still being attempted by many organisations today with just as little success - increased wages/salaries, benefits, communication training and so on. None of them have any impact on employee motivation.

If you've heard of Herzberg's theories but don't know the details, this original source is a must read. Even if you have little knowledge of his theories, but are interested in what motivates all of us, this is essential reading.

Bob Selden, author of What To Do When You Become The Boss: How new managers become successful managers