How can Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory help us manage projects?

1. MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES
“Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
theory”
Gabriela Castro
Isabelle Agner

2. HRM4200 – PROJECT HUMAN RESOURCE AND STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT
Students:
• Gabriela Castro – 040872707
• Isabelle Agner - 040903593
OBJECTIVE:
• Researching on existing motivational theories, focus on “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory”
• Relating how apply this motivational theory in a Project environment
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018

3. WHAT IS “MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS”?
• Motivational theory in psychology comprising
• Developed by Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) in 1943
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018
"One can choose to go back toward
safety or forward toward growth.
Growth must be chosen again and again;
fear must be overcome again and again."
Abraham Maslow

4. HISTORY - BACKGROUND
• Maslow wanted to understand what motivates people
• He believed that individuals possess a set of motivation systems unrelated to rewards
or unconscious desires
• Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one
need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfil the next one, and so on which he called
“Hierarchy of Needs”
• Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate
curiosity
• The earliest hierarchy of needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018

5. HISTORY – EARLIEST MODEL
• The earliest hierarchy of needs includes
five motivational needs, often depicted as
hierarchical levels within a pyramid
• The 5 stage model can be divided into
basic needs (e.g. food, water, safety, love,
and esteem) Psychological needs (e.g.
prestige, friends) and growth needs (self-
actualization).
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018

6. HISTORY - EXPANDED MODEL
During the 1960's and 1970s the Model has been expanded (items 5, 6 and 8) to include cognitive
and aesthetic needs and later transcendence needs.
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018
1. Biological and physiological needs;
2. Safety needs;
3. Love and belongingness needs;
4. Esteem needs - for oneself (dignity) and the desire for reputation or respect from others
(e.g., status);
5. Cognitive needs - knowledge and understanding, curiosity, exploration, need for meaning
and predictability.
6. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.
7. Self-actualization needs - realizing personal potential;
8. Transcendence needs - A person is motivated by values which transcend beyond the
personal self (e.g., mystical experiences and certain experiences with nature, aesthetic
experiences, sexual experiences, service to others, the pursuit of science, religious faith, etc.).

7. ADVANTAGES
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018
• Simple to understand – the needs are
scalated
• It takes into account Human Nature
• Helps in organising wants and fears
• Relevant in All Fields – can be adapted
to different fields such as home, office,
countries, and so on
• Motivation as a changing force
• Not all individuals think in the same
way – for some people the the stages or
levels can be diferente in importance
• Cultural Differences – the theory can be
changed if it applied to different nations
or countries
• Difficulty to Measure – the satisfaction
levels in each stage can vary among
people
• It can be difficult to use the same model
over different generations, particularly
the Millennials
DISADVANTAGES

8. HOW TO APPLY THIS THEORY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE
PROJECTS
• It can be tailored in each Project to understand the motivations of the
team members and Stakeholders
• It helps the managers in understanding how to motivate the employers
• It relates the tailored pyramid to milestones and/or deliverables of the
project
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018

9. MODEL OF TAILORED PYRAMID IN THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018
- Afford incoming for team member salaries and bonuses
- Schedule weekly project team meetings
- Get the team together to celebrate project milestones
- Ensure properly tolls and create an environment where individuals
feel safety with challenging requests that are dangerous
- Ensure whether each team member knows how important they are to the project
- Recognize team members for their excellent contributions to the project
- Take into account each team members professional goals when assigning tasks
- Empower team members, so that they can develop and grow
Salary
Tools and Environment
Recognition
Meetings
Empower-
ment

10. REFERENCES
• Kammar, S. (n.a.). Maslow’s Theory of Motivation: Merits and Criticisms. Retrieved from
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/employees/motivation-employees/maslows-theory-of-motivation-
merits-and-criticisms/75363
• McLeod, S. A. (2007). Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Retrieved from
http://highgatecounselling.org.uk/members/certificate/CT2%20Paper%201.pdf
• McLeod, S. A. (2018). Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Retrieved from
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
• Parikh, V. (2018, March 18). Advantages and Disadvantages of Maslow Theory of Motivation. Retrieved
from http://www.letslearnfinance.com/advantages-disadvantages-maslow-theory-motivation.html
• Project Management Skills (n.a.). Maslow Theory of Motivation. Retrieved from https://www.project-
management-skills.com/maslow-theory-of-motivation.html
Gabriela Castro and Isabelle Agner | H&R and Stakeholder Course | Algonquin College | 2018

11. Thank You!
Gabriela Castro
and Isabelle Agner