Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

Herzberg was a humanist as well as a Social psychologist. He was highly influenced by Maslow and McGregor. According to him, the individual seeks satisfaction of two types of goals.

1.      To avoid discomfort or pain.

2.      To grow psychologically.

These two goals are addressed through two different types of factors which are referred to as Satisfiers and Dissatisfiers. The impact of these factors on an individual is completely different from each other.

S. No.	Dissatisfiers	Satisfiers
1.	These are also referred to as Context Factors, Extrinsic Factors, Hygiene Factors, Maintenance Factors, Deficit Factors etc.	These are also referred to as Content Factors, Intrinsic Factors, Motivators, Growth Factors etc.
2.	It refers to the Company Policy and Administration, salary, interpersonal relations, supervision and physical condition of work.	It refers to Social Recognition, authority, diversity of job and responsibility.
3.	Providing for the satisfaction of the Dissatisfiers results into absence of dissatisfaction.	On the other hand, providing for the satisfaction of satisfiers results into satisfaction.

Satisfaction and dissatisfaction should be understood from a unipolar perspective rather than a bi-polar perspective.

Dissatisfaction ß-------------- Dissatisfiers ---------------------à Absence of Dissatisfaction

Absence of Satisfaction ß------------- Satisfaction ---------------à Satisfaction

Herzberg says that all the goals are not motivational rather only one type of goals are motivational i.e. Satisfiers. Dissatisfiers are not motivational. Individuals remain motivated towards their goals provided there is provision for satisfaction of the satisfiers. Individual becomes fully motivated towards the job when his satisfier goals are satisfied. Herzberg is not undermining the importance of the Dissatisfiers. An individual who is satisfied as well as dissatisfied or individual who is experiencing absence of satisfaction and absence of dissatisfaction might leave the organization. Thus, it is equally important to work towards both the satisfiers and the Dissatisfiers. Dissatisfiers are maintenance factors which require regular replenishment. Whereas providing for the satisfaction of the satisfiers brings about a satisfaction for a longer period of time.

Types of Individuals in an Organization

1.      Hygiene Seekers- These are primarily oriented towards the Dissatisfiers or the job context factors. They are more sensitive towards the hygiene or extrinsic factors. If hygiene factors are favourable, their behaviour will be favourable and vice versa. They are not tolerant towards the hygiene factors. These individuals are generally not high performers or high achievers. They are either ultra conservatives or ultra-liberals. They try to infuse their own character into the subordinate. They believe in standardized behaviour.

2.      Motivation Seekers- They are more attracted towards the job content or the intrinsic factors. They are highly sensitive towards satisfiers. They are highly tolerant towards the hygiene factors. The Motivation Seekers are generally high performers or high achievers.

There are certain types of job in every organization which are repetitive or regular in nature. He has emphasized that in order to bring about motivation of an individual; one should go for job enrichment as against job enlargement.

Chris Argyris says that Job Enlargement is adding of similar types of responsibilities to individual’s job. It is based on the principle of horizontal loading. Herzberg rejected the idea because he thought that it will overburden the individual and replaced it with the concept of Job Enrichment. It primarily refers to addition of different types of activities with related nature to an individual’s responsibility. This is based on the principle of Vertical Loading. It leads to multi-scaling and gives rise to an associative/participative approach.

S. No.	Maslow	Herzberg
1.	Developed his theory from the perspective of need.	Developed his theory from the perspective of goal.
2.	All the needs are motivational.	Only one category of need is motivational i.e. satisfiers.
3.	At any given point of time, only one need is motivating.	No such concept of Prepotency of Needs.

Maslow v. Herzberg

Self-Actualization

Self-Esteem Need

Motivators (A small portion of Self- Esteem Need i.e. the Need for Social Status comes within the Hygiene Factors)

Social Need

Safety Need

Physiological Need

Hygiene Factors