The Notice Board

 

A scholarly chronicle on the use of an online notice board platform to elevate employee motivation.

What is an online Notice Board?

It is an online platform that supports active communication between the organization and employees, effectively enhancing the organization and employee relationship. Simple software that acts as an internal social media platform.

Why?

To enhance employee motivation and organizational performance. A simple initiative that can bring amazing outcomes.

Literature Review

Motivation is a force that guides and sustains behavior. A highly motivated person is ready to provide much more effort and individually do more than expected from them (Armstrong & Taylor, 2020).

Three components of motivation are direction (what is it?), effort (How hard) and persistence (how long) (Arnold, et al., 1991).

Motivation can be categorized into two,

1 Intrinsic Motivation - individuals feel that their work is important, it has meaning and is interesting where it gives them a reason to use their skills and abilities to achieve a common goal or a target (Armstrong & Taylor, 2020).

2. Extrinsic Motivation – work is completed to get something that motivates the person such as incentives, rewards, punishments, and promotions (Armstrong & Taylor, 2020).

McClelland (1961) discusses that the need for achievement is the most important, further defined motivation depends on the following three factors,

1.       The need for achievement – The need for success and measured against the personal standard of excellence

2.       The need for affiliation – The need for social engagement and personal relationships with others.

3.       The need for power – The need to control and influence others.

Expectancy theory states that people motivate highly when they know what they would have to do to get the rewards. Expectance to get the reward and expectation of its worth drives the individual.

Motivation is higher when an individual specifically knows about their goals and targets. Clearly defined goal enhances motivation and individuals’ performance (Latham & Locke, 1979).

Social learning theory recognized that the behavioral learning of one incident may impact the behavior of future behavior of an incident (Bandura, 1977).

How does Noticeboard enhance Employee motivation?

1.       Display Organization Vision and mission along with long-term and short-term goals.

·         Noticeboard is a tool to communicate targets and goals to the staff in a creative and effective manner.

·         Showing the overall progress or the achievement of the goals encourages the employees and keeps them informed.

As per the goal theory, Latham & Locke (1979) emphasizes that employees are motivated when they know their goals and targets clearly.

 

2.       Display and inform team members about incentives and bonuses upon reaching the targets.

E.g.:     Employees will get Rs.1000/- from each Credit card canvassed by them to the bank. 

            Additional bonus will be in effect if employees and teams achieve their target by end of the third quarter.

According to the expectancy theory, individuals perform well and motivates more when the expectancy level of getting the rewards and the worth of rewards communicate efficiently.

 

3.       Displays and recognize the Best performing employee of the month.

·         Recognize outstanding performers and appreciate their efforts among other team members. Encourage others to influence by outstanding performers.

This addresses the main factors McClelland (1961) discussed in his research.

·         The need for achievement – Employees are encouraged to perform well and be recognized

·         The need for affiliation – Outstanding performers recognized among the team and others are encouraged to build relationships among them.

·         The need for power – recognized employees feel their power and get a chance to influence others.

Socializing and recognizing outstanding performers among the team and their work patterns/behaviors would influence the upcoming future performers (Bandura, 1977). 

Outline

The Noticeboard is a simple but effective way to enhance the intrinsic motivation of employees. It is a cost-cutting method yet effective and is a communication bridge between management and employees.

What demotivates your employees

References

Armstrong, M. & Taylor, S., 2020. Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice. London: Koganpage.

Arnold, J., Robertson, I. T. & Cooper, C. L., 1991. Work Psychology. London: Pitman.

Bandura, A., 1977. Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs.

Latham, G. & Locke, E. A., 1979. Goal setting – a motivational technique that works. Organizational Dynamics, pp. 68-80.

McClelland, D. C., 1961. The Achieving Society. New York: Van Nostrand.