Den motiverede medarbejder

Abstract

This thesis examines the motivation of a group of employees in a Danish company which is a supplier of Transport solutions; the objective is to illustrate the significance of the motivation practice the company employs. This motivation practice is based on a set of values, which on the basis of the theory can be identified as intrinsic motivation, where the need for self-determination, competence and relatedness contribute to this. It is considered to be desirable to strive for intrinsic motivation, i.a. because the employees obtain a type of motivation, where no external control or reinforcement is used, this gives considerable commitment, better performance and a greater psychological well-being for the employee ( Ryan & Deci 2000a: 63). The study in this thesis shows that the motivation practice employed in the case company, create employees, whom to a great extend are motivated in a way which is very close to intrinsic motivation. Based on the empirical research, it is evident that the motivation practice of the company can not entirely be identified as suitable. There appears to be a request for management from the employees, as a consequence of the motivation practice employed in the company. Through the self-management concept the thesis achieves an understanding of this demand for management. This demand is linked to the requirements which the applied motivation practice makes on the employee’s self-management capabilities. This again leads to a discussion about the effects, which self-management causes, in relation to the need of the employee for self-determination. Depending on the self-management perspective, self-management can be viewed as diminishing the self-determination.