Motivation

According to Kristine Geimure, “Highly Motivated and Energetic” is one of seven key qualities of a success entrepreneur. To meet that quality, we must find out what motivation is and its importance.

McShane and Travaglion (2005) state that motivation is the physical strength of a person that impacts “his/her direction, intensity and persistence of voluntary behaviour”. Additionally, Coulter and Robbins 2002, p.424 also stated that “The willingness to exert high level of effort’s ability to satisfy some individual need”. Generally, motivation refers to the forces that influence a person’s behaviour and performance to satisfy one’s needs.

Among many motivation theories, we will have a look at one popular theory: the Motivator-Hygiene theory (or Two Factor Theory), developed by Frederick Herzberg. The motivation was defined that inside factors related to job satisfaction and motivation, whereas outside factors connected with job dissatisfaction (Coulter & Robbins, 2002). The following diagram is clearly illustrated what contents in the theory:

The motivators (job satisfaction) are produced by growth fulfilment and work outcome, while the hygiene (job dissatisfaction) is made up by work content. Therefore, that is the reason why motivators are not the same with hygiene. Then improving motivators does not mean that it will decrease job dissatisfaction and similarity in another way (McShane & Travaglione, 2005)

Why is motivation important? Most humans are directed, i.e. we don't walk aimlessly; we walk in a certain direction for a certain reason. Not just things in the here and now, but things in the future we cannot yet see. Motivation is the direction we choose to take. According to McShane and Travaglione (2005), motivation affects work performance. For example, someone who has clear objective, right skills and supportive work environment but without enthusiastic (motivation) probably leads to task incompletion.

As a result, to be an entrepreneur, you must always be on the move, full of energy and highly motivated. Based on a study done by Subodh Bhat and Richard McCline of San Francisco State University, the entrepreneurs were motivated primarily by the desire to create something new, the desire for autonomy, wealth and financial independence, the achievement of personal objectives and the propensity for action ('doing') (2005)


References

Bhat, S. & McCline, R (2005). What motivates an entrepreneur? Retrieved 12-05-2008 from http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/19spec.htm

Coulter, M and Robbins, S. P. 2002, Management, 7th edn., Prentice Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A

Geimure, K. 7 Key Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur. Woopidoo!. Retrieved 12-05-2008 from http://www.woopidoo.com/articles/geimure/entrepreneur-article.htm

McShane, S. & Travaglione, T (2005) Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim, enhance edn., McGraw Hill, Australia.