Similarities and differences between Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Locke and Latham’s Goal Setting Theory

AOS2 SAC PART A

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that suggests people have five fundamental needs, and their sequential attainment of each need acts as a source of motivation.

Locke and Latham’s Goal Setting Theory

The Goal Setting Theory is a motivation theory that states that employees
are motivated by clearly defined goals that fulfil five key principles.

Similarities

1. Both theories recognise that personal gain is a factor that can motivate employees. Esteem needs can be satisfied by providing jobs with higher status to employees, whilst goals fulfilling the commitment principle consider the personal objectives of employees.

2. Both recognise the importance of feedback from management. Self–esteem needs can be satisfied by recognising employees’ efforts and goals that fulfil the feedback principle require management to acknowledge employee efforts in reaching their goal.

3. Both theories place emphasis on motivating through intrinsic factors. The goal setting theory involves setting intrinsic goals, whilst higher-order needs, such as esteem and self-actualisation are also considered to be intrinsic motivators.

DIFFERENCEES

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs focuses on fulfilling one need at a time in sequential order, whereas the Goal Setting Theory requires all principles to be incorporated simultaneously to motivate an employee.

2. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be applied by a manager alone by observing the needs of an employee, whereas the Goal Setting Theory requires employee input to create goals collaboratively.

3. The Goal Setting Theory believes that an individual can be motivated through purely intrinsic factors, whereas Maslow’s theory focuses on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, such as physiological needs.