Two Factor Theory
(Herzberg)

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According to the Two Factor Theory of Frederick Herzberg people are influenced by two factors. Satisfaction and psychological growth are a result factor of motivation factors. Dissatisfaction was a result of hygiene factors. Herzberg developed this motivation theory during his investigation of 200 accountants and engineers in the USA.

The two Factors in the Theory

• Hygiene factors are needed to ensure that an employee does not become dissatisfied. They do not cause higher levels of motivation, but without them there is dissatisfaction.
• Motivation factors are needed in order to motivate an employee into higher performance. These factors result from internal generators in employees.

Typical Hygiene Factors

• Working conditions

• Quality of supervision

• Salary

• Status

• Safety

• Company

• Job

• Company policies and administration

• Interpersonal relations

Typical Motivation Factors

• Achievement

• Recognition for achievement

• Responsibility for task

• Interesting job

• Advancement to higher level tasks

• Growth

Combining the hygiene and motivation factors results in four scenarios

• High Hygiene + High Motivation: The ideal situation where employees are highly motivated and have few complaints.

• High Hygiene + Low Motivation: Employees have few complaints but are not highly motivated. The job is perceived as a paycheck.

• Low Hygiene + High Motivation: Employees are motivated but have a lot of complaints. A situation where the job is exciting and challenging. However the salaries and work conditions are not OK.

• Low Hygiene + Low Motivation: The worst situation. Employees are not motivated and have lots of complaints.

Herzberg suggests that often work can be arranged and should be arranged in the following ways:

• job enlargement
• job rotation, and/or
• job enrichment.

Besides The Two Factor Theory, Frederick Herzberg is also known for his acronym KITA, which has been politely translated as a Kick In The Pants! Herzberg said that KITA does not produce motivation. But only movement.

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