The Influence of McClelland's Need Satisfaction Theory on Employee Job Performance

Abstract

As free trade expands and grows in the post-GATT global era, the South African economy will increasingly rely on firms that are able to compete, survive and prosper in the global village. To this end the production factors of these firms, of which human resources are the most important, must be productively utilised and managed. Successful business firms have been linked to the achievement activities of the human resources of these firms. Despite being a topic of both teaching and research now for almost forty years, uncertainty still exists about McClelland's (1962) assertion that the achievement need (nACH) is a learned need that all people possess. This uncertainty has resulted in the questioning of the motivation and reward strategies of human resource specialists in many firms. Of special importance in the present study is the neglect of achievement motivation of lower-level employees by managers in firms. By using structural equation modelling the causal influence of the nACH and the other McClelland needs on the performance intentions of managers and frontline employees is assessed in this study. The empiri cal results support the learned need assertion. The findings highlight the disadvantages to firms that disregard the achievement motivation of lower-level employees. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

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