Improving Staff Performance

The different motivation theories are content, and process. The difference between them are the internal and external factors affecting how well workers do their jobs. Content theories look at the surroundings of the staff and what motivates them and keeps them happy. Process looks more at what staff can do for themselves, and how HRM can assure the workers are self motivated.

I chose to look at the John Lewis organisation because they seem to be able to motivate staff strongly. primary research shows that they treat staff really well, by giving them good breaks and lunches. a friend of mine work for them, and they seem to really enjoy working their, which means they are well motivated. John Lewis is a partnership company which means they give their staff the shares in the business. this means the general public can not buy shares into the company, and means the staff earn bonuses through shareholding.

John Lewis motivate their staff by including them in decision making to give them a sense of responsibility in the business. They also receive a bonus throughout their year, this is because John Lewis considers all staff shareholders, and so gives back some profits to its staff in the form of a bonus. This keeps staff motivated because these bonuses are increased on different aspects.

The first thing that is made clear is their views on motivation and happiness of the staff:

(taken from the JLP Jobs website)

The website also states that the company is unique in its Human Resources approach, and i couldn’t agree more.

John Lewis also uses Goal Setting as a way of motivating people, first used by Locke and Latham.  By setting targets and goals for the staff they feel like they have something to work towards to keep them motivated. Such as in John Lewis, their goals may to be to earn a certain amount each day. And if staff are able to reach the goals (which should be a challenge yet reachable) they will see their work more important to the company and be well motivated.

I found that if staff are well motivated more work will get done, and i think process and content theories have a good range of ways to do so. I found it interesting reading about them in my books, because i think i could use them myself in real life to keep myself motivated.