The Hawthorne studies and Maslow’s theory have laid the foundation for subsequent theories of job satisfaction and employee motivation.During the 1950s, Frederick Herzberg and his associates put forward a theory called the two-factor theory.According to this theory, there are two groups of factors that influence job satisfaction and employee motivation.The first are hygienic factors such as money, security,working conditions and supervision.They are called hygienic factors because they are like physical hygiene.Taking a bath everyday will keep one from stinking, but taking two or more baths everyday will not make one any healthier.On the other hand, the lack of hygienic factors will affect employee motivation, and the presence of them will keep employees from being dissatisfied.Further increase of such factors,however, will not necessarily cause employees to work harder.

The second group are called motivating factors, which include responsibility, recognition, achievement, promotion and challenge.Those factors, according to Herzberg, will not work if hygienic factors are absent.But once employees are satisfied with hygienic factors,only motivating factors can make them work harder and produce more.This finding fits Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs quite well.

two-factor theory双因素理论(www.daowen.com)

hygienic factors卫生因素

motivating factors激励因素