Motivation in Organisations: Searching for a Meaningful Work-Life Balance extends the current motivation models in business education to include motives of human behaviour that have been neglected for decades. It debunks some of the myths abouthuman motivation (self-interest as the dominant factor, amorality and non-spirituality) and explains why this approach to teaching business is erroneous and leads to wrong and harmful practices in many organisations. In a very personal and engaging style, the author presents a "map of motivations", based on a humanistic approach to management. This includes the latest findings of Abraham H. Maslow supported by sound philosophical reflections and modern research. He also presents specific ways of putting the framework into practice, sharing stories from students and professionals of how this framework has helped them better understand their own motivations and look at their daily work in a much more meaningful way. The book is highly relevant to students and researchers in humanistic management, people management, organisational behaviour, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and sustainability. In short, this text will be truly inspiring to anyone who wants to reflect on motivations in organisations and how to achieve a better work-life balance.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of figures
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Part I Mapping the territory of human motivations
  • 1 Human motivation theories: Are they really human?
    • Understanding Herzberg’s extrinsic and intrinsic motivations
    • Revisiting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
    • Building a map of motivations
    • Using the map of motivations
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why the map is not yet accurate enough
    • References
  • 2 The extrinsic moral motivations: Human yearning for dignity
    • Human motivation theories neglecting the moral dimension
    • Inviting Aristotle to join the conversation with Maslow and Herzberg
    • Comparing Maslow’s hierarchy with Aristotle’s conceptions of good
    • Recovering the neglected moral dimension in human motivation theories
    • Extrinsic moral motivation founded on human dignity and source of trust
    • The crucial role of moral motivation to rebuild trust
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why the map is not yet accurate enough
    • References
  • 3 The intrinsic moral motivations: Aiming to do the right thing
    • Revisiting Maslow’s latest ideas on the moral dimension of motivations
    • Maslow’s and Aristotle’s common ideas on human nature and moral goodness
    • Intrinsic moral motivations: The human desire to do good, honouring our own dignity
    • Moral motivations are higher than useful and pleasant motivations
    • Intrinsic moral motivations shape our moral virtues and our moral conscience
    • Intrinsic moral motivations demand free moral character
    • Intrinsic moral motivations are a manifestation of our human ideals
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why the map is not yet accurate enough
    • References
• Part II Exploring the region of higher human motivations
  • 4 The transcendent motivations: Human readiness to give
    • Overcoming a self-centred vision of human motivations
    • Transcendent motivations: Human willingness to give
    • Transcendent motivations or human generosity in debate among academics
    • Transcendent useful motivations: Human willingness to give useful good, to serve
    • Transcendent pleasant motivations: Human willingness to give pleasant good, to please
    • Transcendent moral motivations: Human willingness to give moral good, to do good
    • Transcendent motivations’ presence in ordinary and professional life
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why the map is not yet accurate enough
    • References
  • 5 The spiritual motivations: Human aspiration for the highest goods
    • The neglected spiritual motivations
    • Spiritual motivations in pursuing the highest human goods
    • Spiritual motivations in Maslow’s latest enquiries
    • Spiritual motivations’ different conceptions
    • Spiritual motivations: Worthy of universal recognition and respect
    • Extrinsic spiritual motivations: The willingness to receive spiritual good
    • Intrinsic spiritual motivations: The willingness to acquire spiritual good
    • Transcendent spiritual motivations: The willingness to give spiritual good
    • Evidence of spiritual motivations
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why the map is not yet accurate enough
    • References
  • 6 The religious motivations: Human longing for God’s Love
    • Religious motivations: A human reality
    • Religious motivations: A personal relationship with God
    • Religious motivations: Discovering God’s Love
    • Religious motivations: It is all about love
    • Religious useful motivation: Willing to return useful good to God
    • Religious pleasant motivation: Willing to return pleasant good to God
    • Religious moral motivation: Willing to return moral good to God
    • Religious spiritual motivation: Willing to return the spiritual good to God
    • Evidence of religious motivations
    • Some practical tips
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why having a map is not enough
    • References
• Part III Using the map of motivations: Towards higher meaningful work
  • 7 The map coordinates for motivations: The logic of love in organisations
    • The logic of love in life and work
    • The logic of love in the human sciences
    • The logic of love in human organisations
    • Receiving truly human good in organisations
    • Achieving truly human good in organisations
    • Giving truly human good in organisations
    • Returning truly human good in organisations
    • The order of love and the order of loves
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why having a map is not enough
    • References
  • 8 The compass for motivations: Searching for a meaningful work-life balance
    • Meaning in life and motivations
    • The meaning of work and motivations
    • The meaning of work as a job
    • The meaning of work as a career
    • The meaning of work as a calling
    • The meaning of work as a higher calling
    • Searching for a meaningful work-life balance
    • Some questions for reflection
    • A final critical thought on why having a map is not enough
    • References
  • 9 The roadmap for motivations: Always searching for higher meaningful work
    • Searching for higher meaningful work
    • From the logic of fear to the logic of love
    • In search of a higher meaning in a job
    • In search of a higher meaning in a career
    • In search of a higher meaning in a calling
    • In search of a higher meaning in a higher calling
    • In search of higher meaningful work and life
    • Some questions for reflection
    • References
• Index