TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key drivers for motivation within a small team of academics within a relatively small UK university. Design/methodology/approach– The research follows a combined interpretivist and ethnographic stance and using a mixed methods approach. Findings– The research identifies that fundamentally academics are driven by the desire for expertise and a search for meaning, while material reward and a need for power play a low significance in their forces. Also increase in managerialism has led to reductions in motivation. Research limitations/implications– The paper provides a limited focus due to the nature of being a small scale study. Practical implications– The paper considers the drivers which motivate academics. Managers and HR departments may consider approaches to managing and leading individuals to achieve improved organisational performance. Originality/value– The paper focuses on motivational drivers within the academy. VL - 35 IS - 6 SN - 0262-1711 DO - 10.1108/JMD-09-2015-0140 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-09-2015-0140 AU - Johnston Alan PY - 2016 Y1 - 2016/01/01 TI - Motivation and the academic – where the drivers sit T2 - Journal of Management Development PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 765 EP - 777 Y2 - 2024/03/28 ER -