Which psychologist argued that the best way to motivate workers is through job enrichment?

Which psychologist argued that the best way to motivate workers is through job enrichment?

• A. Abraham Maslow
• B. Peter Drucker
• C. Frederick Herzberg
• D. B.F. Skinner

Answer: (C)

The idea here is that motivation comes from the work itself. Job enrichment is about redesigning tasks to be more meaningful by increasing responsibility, autonomy, variety, and opportunities for feedback. Frederick Herzberg argued that such motivators—achievement, recognition, responsibility, and growth—are what truly energize employees, not just external rewards or working conditions. This is the essence of his motivation-hygiene framework: hygiene factors like pay and conditions prevent dissatisfaction, but it’s the intrinsic motivators in the job that drive genuine motivation. By enriching the job, you provide employees with a sense of ownership and purpose, which boosts engagement and performance. Maslow describes a hierarchy of needs, Drucker focuses on management by objectives, and Skinner emphasizes reinforcement—none of these center on enriching the job as the primary way to motivate, making Herzberg the best fit for this question.

The idea here is that motivation comes from the work itself. Job enrichment is about redesigning tasks to be more meaningful by increasing responsibility, autonomy, variety, and opportunities for feedback. Frederick Herzberg argued that such motivators—achievement, recognition, responsibility, and growth—are what truly energize employees, not just external rewards or working conditions. This is the essence of his motivation-hygiene framework: hygiene factors like pay and conditions prevent dissatisfaction, but it’s the intrinsic motivators in the job that drive genuine motivation. By enriching the job, you provide employees with a sense of ownership and purpose, which boosts engagement and performance. Maslow describes a hierarchy of needs, Drucker focuses on management by objectives, and Skinner emphasizes reinforcement—none of these center on enriching the job as the primary way to motivate, making Herzberg the best fit for this question.