Limitation of Maslows Hierarchy of need:

It is essential to note that not all employees are governed by same set of needs. Different individuals may be driven by different needs at same point of time. It is always the most powerful unsatisfied need that motivates an individual. The theory is not empirically supported. The theory is not applicable in case of starving artist as even if the artists basic needs are not satisfied, he will still strive for recognition and achievement.

Abraham Maslow looked to expand on Human Relations Theory. His argument was that if motivation could be driven by managers filling their employees needs, then managers should look to understand which of these needs are the most important. Through examinations of people who Maslow believed to be exemplary, such as Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt, Maslow claimed that people would only be motivated to perform to their fullest extent if their higher order needs would be fulfilled by said performance. In other words, it is not enough for a manager to simply pay their employees more, as pay eventually ceases to become a motivator once people have enough money. Instead, managers must find other needs that their employees possess, and look link performance to the satisfaction of these needs. Maslow argues that there were five main categories of needs, which were arranged in a hierarchy. The first needs to be fulfilled were physiological needs, followed by security needs, social needs, esteem needs and finally the need for self-actualization. Physiological needs are the most basic requirements of human existence, such as food, water and rest. Maslow argued that if these needs were not fulfilled, then people would devote all their needs to fulfilling them, and no extent of social interactions or esteem felt by people would compensate. Once the physiological needs were met, people would next consider their security, and the extent to which they were safe from any harm. As such, people will look to live in a safe area, visit the doctor, look for a secure job, and build up savings so they would not risk being poor. As this is above physiological needs in the hierarchy, Maslow claimed that people who were hungry would put themselves at risk to obtain food. This explains why people in war torn regions will still attempt to plant crops in former minefields: the food is a more pressing need than their own safety. Once people feel safe, secure and physiologically satisfied, they will begin to prioritise their social needs. This involves having meaningful social interactions with others, manifested as a need for friends, a need to belong to a social group, and a need to both give and receive love. Once a person has fulfilled these social needs, they begin to desire esteem needs. Esteem needs are defined as those related to someones psychological image of themselves. As such, they can be external, such as receiving praise, recognition and promotion; or internal, such as knowing that a job has been done well, and having a high level of self respect.