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Piano Builder

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Submitted By michel
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Analyze the nature of Bird’s motivation in building pianos. Discuss whether an organization could build the same motivation in most of its employees.

Intrinsic motivation or Self-motivation is the nature of Bird’s motivation in building pianos. Intrinsic motivation, basically, refers to motivation that comes from inside an individual rather than from any external or outside rewards, such as money. The motivation comes from the pleasure one gets from the task itself or from the sense of satisfaction in completing or even working on a task. Mr Waverly Bird, obviously, possesses this kind of motivation. This was evidently shown because, as mentioned in the case, the challenge of work is what lures Bird onward. He constructs pianos not to seek money. He derives satisfaction from precision, quality, and in making a whole piano. All of his activities prove he is intrinsically motivated. There are also other motivation theories, which explain, support, and confirm Bird’s motivation. One is the popular “Hierarchy of Needs Motivation Theory” of Abraham Maslow. From this theory, Bird’s motivation is shown to be at the highest level in the hierarchy of needs, which Maslow called it self-actualization. Self-actualization refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. Bird is at this peak level of needs after his 34-year career. His big dream of building a grand piano, definitely, is going to be his greatest achievement and satisfaction! And since he is already at the peak level, it is reasonable to conclude that his lower needs have been already satisfied. And this conclusion is supported by the fact that he no longer seeks money in his career. Another theory illustrating Bird’s motivation is the Theory of Needs by David McClelland. This theory states that human motivation is

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