Siemens studied worker motivation and found that pay alone does not maximize productivity. To improve the work environment, Siemens used Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs as a blueprint. This theory states that people seek to meet basic needs like safety and belonging before focusing on self-esteem and self-actualization. Previously, Siemens had a traditional hierarchical structure that mostly addressed lower level needs. By shifting to a more collaborative structure, Siemens aimed to help workers meet higher-level needs and find more fulfillment in their roles.