Abraham Maslow

Abraham Harold Maslow is the psychologist who brings forward the Needs of Hierarchy Theory. Basically, Maslow claims that human needs are limited by other human needs. For example, if an individual is thirsty and hungry, he wants to satisfy his thirst before his hunger. This is because, thirst is stronger need than hunger. Maslow , according to his studies, developed Needs of Hierarchy Theory. This pyramid consists of stage. These stages are bottom to top:

The physiological needs: oxygen, water, protein, salt, sugar, calcium, other minerals, vitamins, to sleep, to be active, to rest, to sex, to get rid of wastes etc.

The safety and security needs: stability, protection, security, order, law limits etc.

The love and belonging needs: Friends, family, children, affectionate relationships

The esteem needs: self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc.

Self-Actualization needs: realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

Maslow’s studies affect not only psychology world but also business world. This theory is used at management. In the management, employees’ needs are thinking to motivate people and provide the efficiency and productivity. For example, in the work place, employers have lunch breaks, rest breaks etc. This situation can be explained with the physiological needs theory. Another case, job security or safety working conditions are necessary for employees safety and security needs. In the working place, team work and social atmosphere satisfies the individual’s love and belonging needs. The rewarding of workers supplies their esteem needs. Preferment in carrier satisfies the employees’ self actualization needs. According these, we can say that an individual do not need other step needs before his first step needs are not satisfied.

References

http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow_teorisi

http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/maslow/