A Introduction to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

The best-known classis human motivational depiction on human motivation is the paper of “A Theory of Human Motivation” by famous Abraham Maslow in 1943 in psychological review. It is a five-tier model of human needs with levels of hierarchy within a pyramid (figure 1) where needs in the bottom or the lower level of the pyramid are essential needs to be attended before the higher levels.

This theory generally includes the observation of human curiosity. People are motivated by five categories of needs as Physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization.

Basic needs are known as basic needs to live as a human being. Air, food, water, clothing and shelter is essential for every individual which are basic amenities of life known as physiological needs. Safety needs are personal security, ability to absorb resources, adequate employment opportunities, general health requirements and availability of property. Application of basic needs to HRM is where HR professionals must ensure that each and every employee are provided with basic necessities of life. Breaks and leaves, meal opportunities, proper hygienic arrangements, job security, ergonomically safe working environment for employees and accepted retirement benefits.

Physiological needs are the love & belonginess and self-esteem. Friendship, intimacy, affection of family, care, sense of connection, respect, strength and freedom are some of the aspects. HR practioners can ensure this need by giving attention to individual employees, addressing and encouraging teamwork, organizing social events, appreciate and encourage employee’s best performances by recognizing them by admiration. Prestige and accomplishment let all the humans to expand their self-respect.

Self-actualization need is the highest level of the hierarchy, where it urges to become what an individual may capable of where they think it’s the highest potential they can be. It can be either of professional personal or creative career. Static desires for gaining knowledge, expanding the career aspects where these needs keep growing each and every time which cant be set in a frame without going beyond. HR can provide the employees with challenging job roles by understanding their potential accurately and allow them to reach the peak while utilizing their skills and competencies in their level best.

People are different so are their needs and wants. Nowadays it has observed some limitations with the evolving people desires. Employees may not drive same expected way on the fulfillment of set of needs. Some may satisfy fully while some may address it partially. Some may act almost different of all where the unsatisfied need of an individual becomes the crucial and needs the attention to pass the obstacle. It can be concluded that lower levels of needs are mostly affected by the external factors where fulfilling them needs compatibility where higher levels of needs can be satisfied internally by themselves. Normally it is accepted as if an human achieves the higher level generally lower level needs are significantly met.

References

Juneja P, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, Organizational Behavior - Motivation, Management Study Guide Site, Available from: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/maslows-hierarchy-needs-theory.htm

Maslow, A. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation- Psychological Review, Vol. 50, No 4

Snell S, Bohlander G, Vohra, Human Resource Management- South Asian Perspective. (Indian ed.)