Improving Staff Performance

A business needs to have motivation in order to improve staff performance.  Managing the employee’s performance on a daily basis is the solution to a successful business. In order to have a success business it is important that an individual or a team has a set goal to achieve also make sure that they are aware of their task, which should be explained well and cleared their doubts. Providing them with up to date feedback is also encouraging the staffs, which makes them clear about what exactly they are working towards and how to archive a set goal. It all depends on the Manager how he handles his staff to improve their performance.

Content theory

A content theory describes the motivation, which explains the need of satisfaction, individual’s goals and also their strengths. There are motivation theorists and main theorists of them are (Isaac Ferguson, 2005):

§   Abraham Maslow- Hierarchy

§   Frederick Herzberg- Two factor theory

§   Clayton Alderfer

§   David McClelland

Process theory

The process theory is there to describe an individual’s motivation. There are four divisions in the process theory. The main headings of process theories are as follows (Isaac Ferguson, 2005):

§         Expectancy theory- People would behave regards to what they expect as a result in their behaviour, which means that they would work toward an aimed goal.

§         Equity theory­- This is when people gain job satisfaction and motivation by comparing their effort and income with those of the other people in same or other organisation.

§   Goal theory- This theory works in a way by setting goals to themselves or team and working toward achieving their goals.

§   Attribution theory- It is a social physiological theory, which allows the person to explain how people link actions and emotions to certain causes.

Tesco

One of the most leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom as well as worldwide is Tesco. The reasons for Tesco’s success are the motivated staff working for Tesco as they play a big role. They have provided their staff with motivation and commitment as it is the important key for the growth of the company and also succeeding in market. Tesco requires staffs that are motivated, flexible, well-trained and those who are able to identify customers requirements.

As an employee there are expectations too, because they would want to be treated well and fair and also would like to join a business which is able to meet their expectations.

The business should be able to treat their employees with trust and respect their employee in order to motivate them to work well and result in a more productive workforce. They also make their employees work with their interest in each individuals role, as they have provide staff parties such as Christmas dinner, Staff discount, Flexible working hours, promotions, bonuses, company cars if required for certain roles and also providing them with training (“why join Tesco”, 2009)

They are all main factors of motivating their employees as it allows the employees be part of the business, since they obtain training and also get the opportunity to work in other areas of the business to expand their skills and knowledge. Flexible working hours and being able to swap shifts with their colleague also allows their staff to socialise outside their work life as well as within their work too. The colleagues get to know more each other and also would be able to help each other in certain situation. This again motivates Tesco staff to work in order to achieve their ambitions.  

Tesco using Process theory

From my point of view I believe that the process theory they have used for their business to be success is the goal theory. As for every individual employee, there is a set goal for them to accomplish, whereas they are being motivated with many different types of support from their business. As far as I know and researched, there is a leader for every individual to set a certain goal to gain by a set amount, which leads the employee work towards it. Therefore it shows clearly that they have used the goal theory in their business. Expectancy theory is also being used by Tesco to motivate their staff. The employees have the chances to be promoted if they work dedicated, therefore it is up to them and how they behave towards it if they wanted to obtain such a role. As a result you can see that expectancy theory is also being used within their business.

Conclusion

In conclusion of this report, I can now identify clearly the difference between content and process theory and would be able to apply them on a business that uses it. Motivation is important within a business or Organisation in order to be successful and also have employees who enjoy their role at their work place. There are many organisations which still haven’t taken into account that motivation is important and failing to meet their standard.

Reference:

Anon. (2009). Why join Tesco. Available: http://www.tesco-careers.com/home/working/why-join-tesco. Last accessed 2nd Jan 2011.

Anon. (No Date). Tesco. Available: http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--motivational-theory-in-practice-at-tesco--132-396-1.php. Last accessed 2nd Jan 2011.

Isaac Ferguson. (2000). Content Theories of Motivation: McGregor, ERG, Herzberg, and McClelland. Available: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/foundations_of_psychology/43811. Last accessed 2nd Jan 2011.

Isaac Ferguson. (2000). Content Theories of Motivation: McGregor, ERG, Herzberg, and McClelland. Available: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/foundations_of_psychology/41616. Last accessed 2nd Jan 2011.