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A view of motivation
because it is so structured that it represents needless apology for our system and possibly contains some inadvertent errors. EMERSON P. SCHA/IIDT
Director, Economic Research Chamber of Commerce of the United States Washington, D. C.
A
VIEW
OF
MOTIVATION
To Tn-E EDITORS: F. E. Kast in his excellent philosophical approach toward "Motivating the Organization Man" [Business Horizons, Spring, 1961] emphasizes that management should not ouly rely upon monetary rewards, fringe benefits, and employment security, but should take the responsibility for total fulfillment of employees' needs. Business reality today shows that the profit motive, not necessarily calculated in monetary units, is the criterion, the characteristic, and the const/tuent of all efforts in the continuous struggle of achieving business objectives. As life itself is a total of efforts for satisfying needs, life in a company is for the Organization Man a substantial part of it, that important part which gives him the means of satisfying the other needs that motivate man's behavior. We agree then with Mr. Kast that management "should give recognition to the higher-level
needs," but we must admit that the objective of a company is to produce products or services through motivation of the Organization Man by creating the necessary climate for better human relations within the enterprise; the recognition of his needs is a means for a better job, not a business objective. Management, therefore, should show a greater interest in the satisfaction of all the basie needs of man, but not totally fulfill all his needs. It is a wrong approach to consider an industrial company a philanthropic institution or a "social welfare" organization. In order to justify this point, we can say that one of the main reasons why most companies in the underdeveloped countries ignore completely what we term "industrial sociology" is that employers pay more than 60 per cent on salaries and wages for social insurance, special taxes, and so forth, and cannot afford to fulfill all the needs of their employees. But even if no financial problem is involved, it is necessary not to forget that in the results of all efforts for cost reduction and more profits, the stockholders and the consumers, as well as the Organization Man, must have their equal share. So, any motivation scheme must be formulated under these considerations and within the framework of the company policy. HARRY GAVRIELIDES
Harry Gavrietides & Associates Management Consultants 10 Amerikis Street Athens, Greece
he is hurrying to the
NDIANA BUSINESS SHOW to see the newest business machines and equipment OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1 and 2 EGYPTIAN ROOM
11:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. MURAT TEMPLE
INDIANAPOLIS
{Sponsored by the IndianapoJis Chapter of the National Association of AccountantsJ
16
BUSINESSHORIZONS- FALL, 1961
Director, Economic Research Chamber of Commerce of the United States Washington, D. C.
A
VIEW
OF
MOTIVATION
To Tn-E EDITORS: F. E. Kast in his excellent philosophical approach toward "Motivating the Organization Man" [Business Horizons, Spring, 1961] emphasizes that management should not ouly rely upon monetary rewards, fringe benefits, and employment security, but should take the responsibility for total fulfillment of employees' needs. Business reality today shows that the profit motive, not necessarily calculated in monetary units, is the criterion, the characteristic, and the const/tuent of all efforts in the continuous struggle of achieving business objectives. As life itself is a total of efforts for satisfying needs, life in a company is for the Organization Man a substantial part of it, that important part which gives him the means of satisfying the other needs that motivate man's behavior. We agree then with Mr. Kast that management "should give recognition to the higher-level
needs," but we must admit that the objective of a company is to produce products or services through motivation of the Organization Man by creating the necessary climate for better human relations within the enterprise; the recognition of his needs is a means for a better job, not a business objective. Management, therefore, should show a greater interest in the satisfaction of all the basie needs of man, but not totally fulfill all his needs. It is a wrong approach to consider an industrial company a philanthropic institution or a "social welfare" organization. In order to justify this point, we can say that one of the main reasons why most companies in the underdeveloped countries ignore completely what we term "industrial sociology" is that employers pay more than 60 per cent on salaries and wages for social insurance, special taxes, and so forth, and cannot afford to fulfill all the needs of their employees. But even if no financial problem is involved, it is necessary not to forget that in the results of all efforts for cost reduction and more profits, the stockholders and the consumers, as well as the Organization Man, must have their equal share. So, any motivation scheme must be formulated under these considerations and within the framework of the company policy. HARRY GAVRIELIDES
Harry Gavrietides & Associates Management Consultants 10 Amerikis Street Athens, Greece
he is hurrying to the
NDIANA BUSINESS SHOW to see the newest business machines and equipment OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1 and 2 EGYPTIAN ROOM
11:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. MURAT TEMPLE
INDIANAPOLIS
{Sponsored by the IndianapoJis Chapter of the National Association of AccountantsJ
16
BUSINESSHORIZONS- FALL, 1961