Synthesizing Theories of Motivation into a Planning & Control Mechanism

Abstract

Theories of motivation are composite tools for both public and private managers to comprehend and handle motivational issues as per guidelines of the researchers or advocates of different theories. Apparently, each theory seems different from the other; however, a deeper analysis reveals that all theories are connected because every theorist is talking about the same thing but with different priorities for different contents, processes and issues.

Public and private sector-employees work in absolutely different work environment with multiplicity of differences emerging from one top-level difference of ‘command and control’ over the whole organization. For example, ‘Job-Security’ of public sector employee is far greater as compared to private sector employee, where it is squarely anchored on the ‘sweet-will’ of the employer. Physical differences on the top obviously germinate psychological and cognitive divisions between public and private workforce.

The major ‘Claim’ in this paper is based on the premise (Warrant) that ‘Public and private sector managers face different types of situations where they need different motivation system’ to get their subordinates ready to work willingly. This paper proposes a ‘Planning and Control Mechanism – PCM’, which provides different options for public (Model-1) and private sector (Model-2) organizations.  All motivation theories do not work simultaneously, however, similar theories work together as per immediate requirements of ‘Public’ or ‘Private’ context. Each model aims at helping the managers in making best use of motivation theories as per their respective contributions towards understanding and handling motivation function in the background of their respective organizational work environment.