ALDERFER'S ERG THEORY

 The Need Theories of Motivation mainly focuses on the relationship between achievement and productivity. Among the most discussed need theories like Maslow's hierarchy model, McClelland's needs, Two-factor theory of Herzberg - Alderfer's ERG theory is another important one.

These early theories of employee motivation was developed during the 1950's and are still equally popular. The Content Theories focused on the determinants which motivates the personnel at work. The content theory which we will discuss now is Alderfer's ERG Theory.

Though it is said that the work of Herzberg is an extended version of this theory, but Alderfer's concept for motivation; more specifically need - is much more linear than Maslow and Herzberg. Clayton Alderfer propounded three groups of needs:

1) EXISTENCE: The need for survival or physiological well-being. The most basic to all needs.

2) RELATEDNESS: The need for having successful social or interpersonal relationships. The need to derive social recognition from people around.

3) GROWTH: The internal need of an individual for his/her own personal development. The need to express oneself in a creative manner.

He has suggested a much more of a continuous pattern of needs rather than a hierarchical model.

COMPARISON TO MASLOW'S HIERARCHY THEORY:

Starting with an example, If an individual's culture or surrounding or job environment requires him/her to give priority to interpersonal relationships, then he/she might give 'Relatedness' needs a first priority over 'Existence' needs.

So, it can be easily said that the most basic difference between these two theories is that - Maslow has focused on the Need Hierarchy levels, whereas; Alderfer had lesser limitations while generating the needs. He was much more linear and focused on an worker's immediate environmental demands.

SIMILARITIES TO MASLOW'S HIERARCHY THEORY:

The similarities are more in comparison to the dissimilarities. Maslow and Alderfer, both have promoted fulfillment of needs is the ultimate for work motivation.

The needs are being divided into several types and there are lower-order needs and higher-order needs in both the theories.

And, according to them the satisfaction of higher-order needs are more important for job satisfaction.

Lastly, more the higher-order needs are satisfied, more intense they do become.

REFERENCES:

Luthans, F. (2002). The need for and meaning of positive organizational behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 23(6), 695-706.