IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ers/journl/vxxivy2021ispecial1p906-935.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Academic Staff in the Context of Known Theories of Motivation

Author

Listed:
  • Iwona Zdonek
  • Beata Hysa
  • Dariusz Zdonek

Abstract

Purpose: The main goal of the research is to identify the motivators used in the work of public university employees in relation to known theories of motivation, and to determine the importance of individual motivators for their involvement in work. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses qualitative research with the participation of experts and quantitative research using a survey among academic staff. Data analysis was made in the context of three theories of motivation and a simplified structure of the studied motivators was established during the analysis of factors. Findings: The research results indicated that motivators connected with the theory of self-determination (SDT) and Herzberg's theory (HT) are of the greatest importance for the involvement of academic staff in Polish universities. Motivators that result from the internal motivation of an academic staff member should be most often used in universities. The most important for scientists are motivators regarding mutual internal relations (superiors, colleagues, administration) or organization of working time and job security. In another important motivating group for academic staff, there were motivators related to funding scientific research and access to knowledge. Practical Implications: Applying an appropriate motivation system in universities is not possible without knowledge of the theory of motivating people. A properly applied motivator can improve the effectiveness of scientists' work, which in turn increases the ranking of universities in terms of competitiveness with others. Therefore, it is important to construct an appropriate incentive system, adequate to the needs and capabilities of employers, and at the same time meeting the expectations of employees. Originality/value: The article presents an attempt to match the identified motivators to individual motivation theories. In addition, the importance of individual motivators in relation to these theories and their application was determined.

Suggested Citation

  • Iwona Zdonek & Beata Hysa & Dariusz Zdonek, 2021. "Academic Staff in the Context of Known Theories of Motivation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 906-935.
    • Handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:special1:p:906-935
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ersj.eu/journal/2080/download
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nikolova, Irina & Schaufeli, Wilmar & Notelaers, Guy, 2019. "Engaging leader – Engaged employees? A cross-lagged study on employee engagement," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 772-783.
    2. Henry Sauermann & Wesley M. Cohen, 2008. "What Makes Them Tick? Employee Motives and Firm Innovation," NBER Working Papers 14443, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fernanda Bethlem Tigre & Paulo Lopes Henriques & Carla Curado, 2022. "Building trustworthiness: Leadership self-portraits," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 3971-3991, December.
    2. Mohamed Zennouche & Jian Zhang & Bo Wen Wang, 2014. "Factors influencing innovation at individual, group and organisational levels: a content analysis," International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(1), pages 23-42.
    3. Rinor KURTESH, 2018. "A Systematic Review Of The Internal And External Barriers To Public Sector Innovation In Kosovo," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 8(3), pages 12-23, September.
    4. Burhop, Carsten & Lübbers, Thorsten, 2010. "Incentives and innovation? R&D management in Germany's chemical and electrical engineering industries around 1900," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 100-111, January.
    5. Sachiko Kuroda & Isamu Yamamoto, 2009. "How are hours worked and wages affected by labor regulations?: The white-collar exemption and 'name-only managers' in Japan," Keio/Kyoto Joint Global COE Discussion Paper Series 2009-008, Keio/Kyoto Joint Global COE Program.
    6. Jurgita LazauskaitÄ—-ZabielskÄ— & Ieva UrbanaviÄ iÅ«tÄ— & ArÅ«nas Žiedelis, 2023. "Pressed to overwork to exhaustion? The role of psychological detachment and exhaustion in the context of teleworking," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(3), pages 875-892, August.
    7. Elisabeth Nöhammer, 2022. "Meaning, Needs, and Workplace Spirituality," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Florian Ederer & Gustavo Manso, 2013. "Is Pay for Performance Detrimental to Innovation?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(7), pages 1496-1513, July.
    9. Roach, Michael & Sauermann, Henry, 2010. "A taste for science? PhD scientists' academic orientation and self-selection into research careers in industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 422-434, April.
    10. Jonathan T. Kolstad, 2013. "Information and Quality When Motivation Is Intrinsic: Evidence from Surgeon Report Cards," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(7), pages 2875-2910, December.
    11. Xiangyu Song & Mishal Khosa & Zeeshan Ahmed & Abdulaziz Fahmi Omar Faqera & Nhat Tan Nguyen & Shafique Ur Rehman & Yueyong He, 2022. "Linking Transformational and Despotic Leadership to Employee Engagement: Unfolding the Role of Psychological Distress as a Mediator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    12. Nick Manning & Zahid Hasnain & Jan Henryk Pierskalla, 2012. "Public Sector Human Resource Practices to Drive Performance," World Bank Publications - Reports 25489, The World Bank Group.
    13. Jonathan T. Kolstad, 2013. "Information and Quality when Motivation is Intrinsic: Evidence from Surgeon Report Cards," NBER Working Papers 18804, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. André Spithoven & Peter Teirlinck, 2010. "External R&D: Exploring The Functions And Qualifications Of R&D Personnel," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(06), pages 967-987.
    15. Romero-Martínez, Ana M. & Montoro-Sánchez, Ángeles & Garavito-Hernández, Youseline, 2017. "O efeito da diversidade de gênero e o nível educacional na inovação," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 57(2), April.
    16. Ryan, James Christopher & Berbegal-Mirabent, Jasmina, 2016. "Motivational recipes and research performance: A fuzzy set analysis of the motivational profile of high performing research scientists," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5299-5304.
    17. Irina Nikolova & Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Wilmar Schaufeli & Judith H. Semeijn, 2021. "Disengaging Leadership Scale (DLS): Evidence of Initial Validity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    18. Claire Bonnard, 2011. "Les incitations à l'innovation dans le secteur privé," Post-Print halshs-00599700, HAL.
    19. Vivi Gusrini Rahmadani & Wilmar B. Schaufeli & Jeroen Stouten & Zhenduo Zhang & Zulkarnain Zulkarnain, 2020. "Engaging Leadership and Its Implication for Work Engagement and Job Outcomes at the Individual and Team Level: A Multi-Level Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, January.
    20. John P. WALSH & NAGAOKA Sadao, 2009. "Who Invents?: Evidence from the Japan-U.S. inventor survey," Discussion papers 09034, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Motivation; motivation theories; academic staff.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M30 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:special1:p:906-935. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Marios Agiomavritis (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ersj.eu/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.