Motivational Intervention in Productivity Improvement

Productivity improvement interventions are diverse covering wide ranging managerial alld non-managerial issues. Creative abilities, cognitive capacities, inherent learning from the birth of human civilization motivated human being to continuously strive for devising ways and means to do things better. Scientific concepts of productivity were unknown until 1970s. Mechanistic scientific management paradigm that focused efficiency ignored quality and effectiveness dimensions of productivity. Neo-classical approach's human behavioral overlays lacked scientific methods of analyzing productivity. Systemic view of organization acknowledged operating organizational environment, strategic thinking and leadership as key interventions for survival, growth and development of an organization, explicitly escaped the productivity measures. Scarcity of resources, continued budget deficit, tax payer's pressures, businessmen's demand for more proactive and lean government forced politicians to ascribe high priority on productivity improvement. Projects were undertaken during 1970s to develop productivity indexes. National productivity organizations are now operating in most countries of the world to promote productivity both in private and public sectors. Motivation and productivity are positively correlated. A motivated person exerts more efforts than a demotivated or Frustrated person. This increased efforts result ill improved performance and productivity. Motivation is now viewed From a future oriented perspective that emphasizes long-term gains in productivity. Developing employee's desire, willingness, abilities and efforts are crucial in optimally exploring and utilizing human potentials. The study, thus, explores, in generic terms, potential benefits of motivation in productivity improvement and suggests actions for policy interventions.