11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

Your Article Library

Herzbergs Motivation-
Hygiene Theory:
Factors and Critical
Analysis
Article shared by :

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Read this article to learn about the

Herzbergs motivation-hygiene theory, its
factors and critical analysis.

Introduction to the Theory:

Fredrick Herzberg and his associates developed
the MOTIVATION HYGIENE THEORY,
commonly known as the two factor theory, in the
late 1950s and early 1960s. Herzberg and his
associates conducted a research based on the
interview of 200 engineers and accountants who
looked for 11 different firms in Pittsburgh area,
U.S.A.

The purpose of the research was to find out as to

what variables are perceived to be desirable goals
to achieve and conversely, undesirable conditions
to avoid. During the course of the interviews,
these men were asked to describe a few previous

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 1/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

job experiences in which they felt exceptionally

good or exceptionally bad about jobs. They
were also asked to rate the degree of which their
feelings were influenced-for better or worse- by
each experience which they described.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Based upon the answers received from these 200

people, Herzberg concluded that there are certain
factors that tend to be consistently related to job
satisfaction and on the other hand, there are
some factors, which are consistently related to
job dissatisfaction. The last of job conditions, he
referred to as MAINTENANCE OR HYGIENE
factors and the first job conditions as
MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS. The motivational
factors are intrinsic in nature and the hygiene
factors are extrinsic in nature.

Motivational Factors:
1. Hygiene Factors:

Hygiene factors or the maintenance factors do

not motivate people, they simply prevent
dissatisfaction and maintain status quo. Such
factors do not produce positive results but
prevent negative results. If these factors are not
there it will lead to job dissatisfaction. These are
not motivators, as they maintain a zero level of
motivation or in other words, these factors do not

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 2/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

provide any satisfaction but eliminate

dissatisfaction.

According to Herzberg there are ten

maintenance or hygiene factors:

The word hygiene is taken from the medical

science, where it means taking preventions to
maintain your health but not necessarily improve
it. Similarly, hygiene factors in this theory
prevent damage to efficiency but do not
encourage growth. As such, these are also called
dissatisfies.

2. Motivational Factors:
ADVERTISEMENTS:

These factors are intrinsic in nature and are

related to the job. The motivational factors have a
positive effect on job satisfaction and often result
in an increase in total output. Thus, these factors
have a positive influence on morale, satisfaction,
efficiency and productivity.

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 3/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

Herzberg concluded that six factors

motivate the employees:

Any increase in these factors will improve the

level of satisfaction, thus, these factors can be
used for motivating the employees. Based on his
research, Herzberg stated that managers have
hitherto been very much concerned with hygiene
factors. As a result they have not been able to
obtain the desired behaviour from the employees.
In order to increase the motivation, it is
necessary to pay attention to the motivational
factors.

He further concluded that todays motivational

factors are tomorrows hygiene factors. Because
once a need is satisfied, it stops influencing the
behaviour. Further, one persons hygiene may be
another persons motivator, because motivation
is also influenced by the personality
characteristics of individuals.

Critical Analysis of the Theory:

Herzbergs theory is appreciated on the ground
that it provides an insight into the task of
motivation by drawing attention to the job factors
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 4/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

which are often overlooked. It shows the value of

job enrichment in motivation. Thus, Herzbergs
theory has solved the problems of managers who
were wondering why their policies failed to
motivate the employees adequately.

However, this theory has also not gone

unchallenged. It has been criticized on the
following grounds:

1. Not Conclusive:

Herzberg study was limited to the engineers and

accountants. The critics say that this theory is not
conclusive because the professionals or the white
collar workers may like responsibility and
challenging jobs. But the general workers are
motivated by pay and other benefits. The effect of
hygiene and motivational factors may totally be
reverse on some other categories of people.

2. Methodology:
ADVERTISEMENTS:

Another criticism of this theory is directed at the

method of research and data collection. The
interviewers were asked to report exceptionally
good or exceptionally bad job experience. This
methodology is defective because such
information will always be subjective and biased.

3. Job Enrichment:

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 5/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

This theory has given too much emphasis on job

enrichment and has totally ignored job
satisfaction of the workers. He didnt attach
much importance to pay, status or interpersonal
relationships which are generally held as great
motivators. Keeping in view all these points we
can conclude that Herzbergs theory has been
widely read and there will be few people who are
not familiar with these recommendations. This
theory provides valuable guidelines to the
managers for structuring their jobs in order to
include such factors in the jobs which bring
satisfaction.

Home

Before publishing your articles

on this site, please read the
following pages:

1. Content Guidelines 2.
Prohibited Content 3.
Plagiarism Prevention 4. Image
Guidelines 5. Content
Filtrations 6. TOS 7. Privacy
Policy 8. Disclaimer 9.
Copyright 10. Report a
Violation

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 6/7
11/12/2017 Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Factors and Critical Analysis

ADVERTISEMENTS

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/theories-motivation/herzbergs-motivation-hygiene-theory-factors-and-critical-analysis/63879 7/7