Limitations of Maslow's Hierarchy
While Maslow's hierarchy makes sense from an intuitive standpoint, there is little evidence to support its hierarchical aspect. In fact, there is evidence that contradicts the order of needs specified by the model. For example, some cultures appear to place social needs before any others. Maslow's hierarchy also has difficulty explaining cases such as the "starving artist" in which a person neglects lower needs in pursuit of higher ones. Finally, there is little evidence to suggest that people are motivated to satisfy only one need level at a time, except in situations where there is a conflict between needs. Even though Maslow's hierarchy lacks scientific support, it is quite well-known and is the first theory of motivation to which many people they are exposed. To address some of the issues of Maslow's theory, Clayton Alderfer developed the ERG theory , a needs-based model that is more consistent with empirical findings. Levels of needs are somewhat difficult to measure. Maslow was a psychologist and not a scientist or mathematician. How accurate can business measure the quantitative level of security, ego, esteem and love or belonging in the workplace? Maslow assumed that everyone is motivated in the prescribed order of his model. However, do freelance artists and writers or volunteer workers fit this model? Home workers and self employed drivers do not get the social interaction of working in an office, but this does not mean that they cannot be highly motivated or that motivation has to follow a chronological order. Other workers may be willing to sacrifice pay and financial benefits for better working conditions and job security. Indeed, subsequent studies by the Minneapolis Gas Company from 19451965 found that both men and women placed security needs as their Number 1 motivator. These extensive studies reveal that advancement, the type of works and being proud of working for the company are the next three motivators (the later two do not feature in Maslow’s model) There is no explanation of what motivates people once they have achieved self actualization. What drives those to have perhaps already reached self actualization, such as the likes of Bill Gates, Richard Brandson, Laxmi Laxmi Mittal and Donald Trump? What motivates them to continue in their lines of business if they have already achieved so much in their prolific careers? What encourages wealthy people who are past retirement retirement age, such as Warren Buffet, to continue working?
Furthermore, it was a weak research methodology as it was an overall small sample size which also had lack of empirical methods and had vague terms for peak experiences.
Conclusion Maslow’s contribution was a great theory in the field of management which motivated the workers, to give their company better results. However, The basic idea of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is that our needs are constantly changing. As one need is met, we desire other needs. Will the raise we received 3 years ago motivate us for the next 10 years? Will the challenging job we began 5 years ago have the same effect on us today? Will the performance award we received last year completely satisfy our need for recognition for the rest of our lives? The answers to all of these questions is clearly, no. This is the beauty of Maslow's theory of motivation. Employee needs change with time. This means that managers
must continually adapt to employees' changing needs if they want to keep their workforce motivated. Maslow understood these truths!
