THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS MOTIVATION

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Although there is a general agreement among psychologist that man experience a variety of needs, there is considerable disagreement as to what these needs are and their relative importance. There have been a number of attempts to present models of motivation which list a specific number of motivation needs, with the implication that these list are all-inclusive and represent the total picture of needs.

Unfortunately, each of these models has weaknesses and lapses, and we are still without a general theory of motivation. All organizations are concerned with what should be done to achieve sustainable high levels of performance through people. Consequently, the subject of adequate motivation of workers as derived from so many attempts made by management practitioners is to look for the best way to manage so as to accomplish an objective or mission with the least inputs of materials and human resources available.

A lot of theoretical concept, principles and techniques of management have provided responses to these challenges. In general management, authors have intended to view motivation as a key component of the managerial function of leading or directing. In any serious and competitive society workers are one of the tools for economic progress in which their welfare must be taken into serious consideration because without a dedicated workforce, an organization crumbles.

The term “work attitude” refers to effective orientation on the part of individuals towards work roles, which perform in their respective work places. Work attitude could also be referred to as the way an individual feels about his/her work and organization as an entity. It is either the job is pleasant, good and satisfying or the job is unpleasant and brings no satisfaction.

In a moral sense, attitudes are characteristic and usually a long lasting way of feeling and thinking. Infact, behaviour of an individual is a reflection of his or her attitude towards a given object.

In an organization, employees develop a favourable or positive work attitude when their desires are fulfilled. They equally develop an unfavourable or negative work attitude whenever their desire are not fulfilled. Such situation which includes poor job performance, hostility, non-chalant attitude in work situation, lack of commitment, inefficiency, strike and other unpleasant behaviors constitute reasons for developing negative attitude towards their jobs.

The nation (Nigeria) reward system is probably the poorest in the entire globe were an average take home of worker is put at $35 per month. Workers are used and abused, harassed, threatened, offended and discarded without any appreciation for their contribution to their organization and to the society at large.