Search results
1 – 10 of over 42000Bibi Alajmi and Hessah Alasousi
The purpose of this paper is to examine the levels of motivation and needs satisfaction of academic library employees, adopting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to examine individuals’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the levels of motivation and needs satisfaction of academic library employees, adopting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to examine individuals’ motivation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collects and analyzes quantitative survey data. The research population comprises 108 employees working across eight college libraries at Kuwait University.
Findings
While participants generally agreed that their needs were being satisfied at each of the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy, they reported higher levels of satisfaction of their self-actualization and social needs. Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow’s motivation theory representing the quest for reaching one’s full potential as a person.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation is the relatively small sample size due to Kuwait having only one public university. Future research could overcome this limitation by investigating both private and public universities.
Practical implications
This research contributes significantly and in various ways to understanding motivation in a library setting. It elucidates many aspects of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory criticized in previous literature. Overall, the study’s results should be useful to scholars in the library field interested in motivation, to academic librarians and to managers in academia.
Originality/value
Though many prior studies have focused on motivation in a library setting, Maslow’s theory has been little considered in the context of academic libraries. This study uses a theoretical framework based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to understand and explain the levels of motivation and needs satisfaction of academic library employees.
Details
Keywords
Danstan Bwalya Chiponde, Barry Gledson and David Greenwood
In his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”, Maslow suggested the “Hierarchy of Needs” as a classification system that described the stimuli for human behaviour. Presently…
Abstract
Purpose
In his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation”, Maslow suggested the “Hierarchy of Needs” as a classification system that described the stimuli for human behaviour. Presently, project behaviour research, which inspired this work, encourages undertaking research on behavioural aspects within and across organisational and project settings. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse project-based organisations’ (PBOs) seemingly reluctance in engaging in organisational learning from past project failures by drawing upon both institutional theory (since it focuses on how firms interact) and Maslow’s model within a project behaviour piece of research.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were held with purposively selected construction professionals from the UK construction industry, and data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings
Besides the need to learn from failures, PBOs’ main competing needs revolve around their “competitiveness”; “profitability and productivity”; “repeat business” and “reputation and partnering”. Mirroring these needs against Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, “competitiveness” and “profitability” are analogous to foundational “physiological” and “safety” needs. The need for “repeat business” and “reputation” is approximated with Maslow’s “affiliation” and “self-esteem” needs, and organisational learning is associated with “self-actualisation”. From an institutional theory perspective, such response to failure is influenced by the need to show legitimacy and conformity imposed by institutional factors.
Practical implications
Instead of taking a simplified approach to learning from failure such as the use of technological tools, PBOs and the sector at large should consider more robust approaches, by appreciating the influence of institutional factors and the external environment on their efforts to learn from failure.
Originality/value
Unlike past studies that present organisational learning within PBOs as a straightforward process, this study instead highlights the need of understanding various competing needs within a PBO and the external pressure.
Details
Keywords
Yajun Guo, Huifang Ma, Jiahua Zhou, Yanchen Chen and Yiming Yuan
This article aims to understand users' information needs in the metaverse communities and to analyze the similarities and differences between their information needs and those of…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to understand users' information needs in the metaverse communities and to analyze the similarities and differences between their information needs and those of users in Internet communities.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted semi-structured interviews with users in the metaverse communities to gather raw data. Grounded theory research methods were employed to code and analyze the collected interview data, resulting in the extraction of 40 initial concepts, 15 subcategories and 5 main categories. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, this paper constructs the hierarchical model of users' information needs in the metaverse communities. It compares the differences between users' information needs in the metaverse and Internet fields.
Findings
The user’s information needs in the metaverse communities are divided into two types: deficiency needs and growth needs. Deficiency needs have two levels. The first level is the demand for basic information resources. The second level is the users demand for information assistance. Growth needs have three levels. The first level is the need for information interactions. The second level is the need for community rules. The ownership information in the community rules can provide proof of user status, assets and so on. The third level is the need for users to contribute and share their own created information content.
Originality/value
This article presents the latest research data from in-depth interviews with users in the metaverse communities. It aims to help builders and managers of metaverse communities understand users' information needs and improve the design of virtual communities.
Details
Keywords
STEPHEN O. OGUNLANA and WEI PIEN CHANG
The groundbreaking works of Maslow and Herzberg have been used by many researchers on construction worker motivation. These two classical theorists were used as the basis for a…
Abstract
The groundbreaking works of Maslow and Herzberg have been used by many researchers on construction worker motivation. These two classical theorists were used as the basis for a survey of needs, motivators and demotivators on high‐rise building construction sites in Bangkok, Thailand. The needs and felt motivators of construction workers in Bangkok are low on the Maslow hierarchy. The agreement between workers and supervisors regarding needs is strong. However, the agreement on motivators and demotivators is rather weak. This may lead to the use of inappropriate methods for motivating workers. A comparison of the results of the present survey with other studies showed that attempts to motivate workers should take cognizance of the cultural context in order to achieve good results.
Details
Keywords
Huanhuan Cao, Jinhu Jiang, Lih‐Bin Oh, Hao Li, Xiuwu Liao and Zhiwu Chen
The purpose of this paper is to apply Maslow's hierarchy of needs to extend the expectation‐confirmation model of information systems continuance (ECM‐IS) to analyze users'…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply Maslow's hierarchy of needs to extend the expectation‐confirmation model of information systems continuance (ECM‐IS) to analyze users' continuance intention of social networking services (SNSs).
Design/methodology/approach
A survey is conducted on 202 users of social networking services in China.
Findings
Fulfillment of self‐actualization needs has a significant impact on continuance intention; however, the direct impact of fulfillment of social needs on continuance intention is not significant but fully mediated by satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation is that the participants in the sample are undergraduates. Second, this study has used cross‐sectional survey data to empirically test the model. Third, the survey is conducted in a single country.
Practical implications
The results of this paper provide several marketing implications to better manage SNSs. First, SNS managers should enhance instant communication functions, develop a platform that is convenient for users to express themselves and provide more entertainment functions. Second, SNS managers should focus on users' expectations and experiences about website functions and adjust or update website functions accordingly.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the research on continuance intention of social networking services from the perspective of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to capture motivations of continuance intention. The authors believe their conceptualizations of fulfillment of self‐actualization needs and fulfillment of social needs, as well as their substantial findings, would be useful to researchers and practitioners alike to better study and manage continuance intention of socially‐oriented online services.
Details
Keywords
Songshan (Sam) Huang and Cathy H.C. Hsu
The purpose of this paper is to review the relevant literature on travel motivation and provides a scenario‐based discussion on the applications of travel motivation theories in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the relevant literature on travel motivation and provides a scenario‐based discussion on the applications of travel motivation theories in the industry practice. The paper offers an invaluable practical interpretation of travel motivation and related management issues.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive literature review on travel motivation is conducted to acknowledge the major theories. Two scenarios are presented and discussed by linking two motivation conceptual schemes, Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory and Plog's allocentrism/psychocentrism model, to practical issues in travel management.
Findings
The literature review discloses that travel motivation theories have evolved over time. By linking theories to industry practice, the paper advocates that travel managers be more conscious of travelers' internal psychological needs when designing travel services/products.
Originality/value
This paper offers a good understanding of travel motivation by discussing theoretical applications in real‐world situations.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to investigate changes in the relative importance to individuals of particular work values during the deterioration of external economic conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate changes in the relative importance to individuals of particular work values during the deterioration of external economic conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper employed longitudinal field survey techniques, comparing the change relative work value priorities at an initial and two subsequent points in time during dramatic economic swings in Hong Kong. The paper also evaluate needs hierarchies such as Maslow's and Elizur's, minimally adjusted for a Chinese cultural context for a theoretical framework for assessing the shifting importance of work values resulting from changing local economic conditions.
Findings
The major contribution is the finding of statistically significant changes in the differing importance to individuals of particular work values during the deterioration of external economic conditions. The paper demonstrates that the needs hierarchy theories provide an appropriate framework for the shifting importance of work values resulting from local economic conditions.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is in a single location, limiting generality of the results. All longitudinal studies are affected by panel attrition. Replication with larger samples and tracking of panel drop‐outs are needed for theoretical development.
Practical implications
These results have crucial implications for the effective management of business firms and their human resources in changing economic conditions, finding that work values of managers are not invariant but change with conditions.
Originality/value
The majority of studies on work values of employees have been performed, analyzed, and interpreted in a vacuum, in isolation from consideration of critically import variables, the current, historical, and expected future economic environment of the employee. The paper finds work values change due to environmental circumstances; this effect has rarely been studied.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of the study was to apply Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to understand consumer motivation for preventive health care in India using content analysis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to apply Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to understand consumer motivation for preventive health care in India using content analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis approach which is a qualitative-based approach was adopted. The responses were collected through semi-structured interviews using purposeful sampling method, and the responses were analyzed using content analysis approach. Sub themes and main themes were derived from the data which related to concepts in Maslow’s theory.
Findings
The results indicate the following: healthy food, healthy diet and health supplements are the basic need; sustainability of health and fitness and health security relate to safety and security need; feeling of pride in being fit, being a role model of fitness for others and influence of electronic media relate to social and self-esteem need; freedom from disease and peace of mind fulfill the need for self-actualization.
Research limitations/implications
To strengthen the external validity, a mix of alternate research methodologies adopting qualitative and quantitative approach need to be adopted.
Practical implications
This study will help to better understand motivation for preventive health care. It will enable health-care companies to design health-care marketing programs based on Maslow’s theory to motivate individuals to purchase health products. The public health-care departments can issue guidelines based on Maslow’s theory to motivate citizens toward preventive health care.
Originality/value
Maslow’s theory was applied in the context of preventive health care.
Details
Keywords
Lerato Aghimien, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa and Douglas Aghimien
The construction workforce plays a crucial role in the successful delivery of any construction project and, eventually, the performance of any construction organisation…
Abstract
The construction workforce plays a crucial role in the successful delivery of any construction project and, eventually, the performance of any construction organisation. Effectively managing these workforces becomes crucial. However, past studies have shown that workforce management within the construction industry has been on the back foot, with workers being seen as resources required to deliver construction projects. This situation begs the need for a construction workforce management model that can be tailored to an organisation’s situation and adopted to manage workers and improve organisational performance effectively. To this end, this chapter reviewed existing workforce management theories, models, and practices to develop a suitable approach towards managing the construction workforce. Ultimately, a strategic workforce management with a classical view using a soft workforce management approach that embraces employees’ empowerment and development through trust was proposed. Five major practices that best suit the soft workforce management approach were identified as key constructs in the proposed construction workforce management model.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to offer a new theory of human nature to explain the happiness paradox of capitalism.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer a new theory of human nature to explain the happiness paradox of capitalism.
Design/methodology/approach
It is argued that happiness crisis in capitalism stems from the lack of full understanding of human nature which is like a black box from which key assumptions in capitalist market system are derived. The author attempts to unlock this black box in order to understand the failure of capitalism in bringing happiness.
Findings
As the success of capitalism comes from its partial understanding of human nature, its failure comes from its partial misunderstanding or exploitation of human nature. This leads to ignoring the needs and desires of certain elements of human nature for the sake of serving only the animal spirit and self‐centric ego. The proposed new theory offers a new understanding of happiness and its determinants. Comparing the human body to a luxury recreational vehicle (RV) and the elements of human nature to the companions on this vehicle, the theory suggests that an individual cannot be truly happy if he or she listens only to one of his/her residents while disregarding the others. The new theory offers better explanation for the 2008 financial crisis and the happiness paradox in wealthy nations. It also provides an underlining framework for the existing happiness theories.
Research limitations/implications
The new theory needs to be tested through empirical studies.
Social implications
The paper theoretically argues that that authentic happiness is possible if individuals listen to the voices of all elements of human nature and try to fulfil their needs and desires in a balanced manner.
Originality/value
The paper offers a new comprehensive theory on human nature.
Details