what are the implications of Maslow's hierarchy of needs for how we reward and manage people at work?

-- Almothna mansor (almotna@hotmail.com), November 20, 2002

Answers

I suspect there is no right answer to this, and the point is for you to think it through. Maslow would probably approach this by asking where on the hierarchy of needs "working" falls. Is a person working simply to put food on the table and keep a roof over her head? Is she working because she finds self-fulfillment on the job? If she is fulfilled on the job, does she care less about wages and benefits? Academics are generally paid much less than are people in non- academic jobs, but they like other rewards such as setting their own hours, having academic freedom, etc. So you can answer your question by thinking broadly about work, work environments, wages and benefits, job descriptions and requirements, and where each of these might link to the hierarchy.

-- Hendrika Vande Kemp (hendrika@earthlink.net), November 20, 2002.