CAIE A-Level Business 2.2.3 Motivation theories
Practise using Maslow, McClelland and other motivation theories to analyse employee needs and evaluate management choices.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Business 9609
- Level
- AS
Exam points
- apply Maslow's hierarchy to changes in pay, job design or workplace treatment
- evaluate whether McClelland's needs theory fits the employees in a case business
- analyse methods that help employees reach self-actualisation through work
2.2.3—Motivation theories question 1
[Maximum number: 12]
Evaluate whether McClelland's three needs theory is the best way to meet employee needs in a software business.
Indicative content
Responses may include:
AO1 Knowledge and understanding
- McClelland - three needs theory - achievement motivation, authority / power motivation, affiliation motivation.
AO2 Application
- examples given of suitable application - software, video games, research, technology, quaternary sector.
- examples given of the different types of employees within a software business e.g. app developer, programmer, website developer, game developer, coding, data scientist.
- example of a software business e.g. Apple, Microsoft.
6(b)
AO3 Analysis
- Achievement motivation - employees aim for excellence. Likely to avoid low-risk situations with unchallenging targets. Likely to avoid high-risk situations as they fear not achieving.
- Achievement motivation - employees need realistic but challenging goals. Should be given tasks which are demanding but achievable. Need regular positive feedback on achievement and progress to meet their need for accomplishment.
- Authority / power motivation - employees need personal power - to direct or control other employees.
- Authority / power motivation - employees need institutional power - to organise other employees, to have control and status, to influence the business' objectives.
- Authority / power motivation - employees can be given supervision / control of other workers by promotion to higher position e.g. manager. A strong need for authority may lead to an autocratic leadership style.
A junior employee could be given a supervisory role, while more senior employee may manage a large team of employees.
- Affiliation motivation - employees need good relationships and social interaction with other employees. They need to feel accepted and are motivated to work with other people.
- Affiliation motivation - employees should be employed as a member of a team.
- McClelland believed that these three needs exist, to differing extents, in all employees, regardless of their role or status within the business.
- the combination of these three needs determines: each employee's behaviour in terms of what motivates them; how they manage and motivate other employees.
- McClelland's theory of needs has implications for leaders and managers. They must treat each employee as an individual as each employee may require different roles and tasks to meet their individual needs.
- reward comments regarding the overlap between McClelland's theory and others. Motivation theorists show a range of employee needs, some of which overlap.
- Taylor - money for basic needs. Mayo - social needs. Maslow's hierarchy of needs - physiological, security, social, self-esteem, self-actualisation. Herzberg - two factor theory of hygiene factors and motivators, meeting the needs above.
These theories can also be used to influence the motivation of employees once McClelland's theory has been applied.
Accept all valid responses.
6(b)
AO4 Evaluation
Developed evaluation in
context:
Developed / Supported judgement in context
6 marks
Developed evaluation in
context:
Developed / Reasonable evaluative comments in
context
5 marks
Developed evaluation not
in context:
Developed / Supported judgement without context
4 marks
Developed evaluation not
in context:
Developed / Reasonable evaluative comments without
context
3 marks
Limited supported
judgement
Limited supported
judgement
2 marks
Limited supported
judgement
An attempt to balance the arguments / Weak attempt at evaluative comments
1 mark
6(b)
A judgment/conclusion is made as to whether McClelland's three needs theory is the best way to meet employee needs in a software business.
These judgements/conclusions may be made at any point in the essay, not only in a concluding section.
- evaluative comments may compare the usefulness of McClelland's theory with that of other theorists.
- how easy is it to identify the relative strength of the three needs in McClelland's theory in all employees? Will this involve specialist designed questionnaires which can be expensive and time consuming to carry out by the HRM function?
- it depends on the individual needs of the employees which are influenced by their experience, current status and ambitions.
- can the business act on what it finds by using appropriate methods, maybe those shown in other theories?
- it depends on the types of leaders / managers in the business as to how well they recognise and are willing / able to meet these needs.
- it depends on the type of business being considered and the types of employees within it.
- a judgment will be made relating to the employees in a software business e.g. there may be many types of employees e.g. web developer, computer programmer, database administrator, software designer. Employees in the functions of marketing, finance, production and human resources may have very different needs to those in the technical and creative roles.
Accept all valid responses.
All question bank results loaded