For the 25 security manager and consultant candidates sitting the ASIS CPP certification examination in the UK on 3 May, this is a very intensive week of final examination preparation under the guidance of Barry Walker CPP and Phil Wood MBE CPP PSP.
In addition to covering the core security management knowledge domains, the CPP certification places great emphasis on general management principles, which constitute 11% of the examination questions.
Yesterday candidates discussed the various theories of motivation, including Malsow, Herzberg and McGregor.
The basic human needs, according to Maslow are (from lowest to highest) physiological needs, security needs, belonging needs, esteem needs and self-actualisation needs (the synthesis of ‘worth’, ‘contribution’ and perceived ‘value’ of the individual in society). The basic assumption of Maslow’s theory is that motivation cannot be advanced unless each successive need is satisfied.
Herzberg took a complementary approach, arguing that there were specific negative motivational factors that have to be addressed before the positive motivational factors can take effect. His analysis, based on 200 middle class professionals in the USA, identified the demotivational factors as: over-supervision, poor salary, poor working conditions and poor interpersonal relations. Fix these, Herzberg argued, and then move onto the truly motivating factors such as recognition, interesting work, opportunity for advancement and being given responsibility.
McGregor’s theory argues that there are essentially two types of managers - those who believe employees need to be rewarded, coerced, intimidated and punished in order to work (Theory X), and those who believe employees will work willingly because work is a natural human activity (Theory Y).
Several useful links to leadership and motivational theories can be found on the ARC weblinks page at:
http://www.arc-tc.com/pages/resources_publications.asp
For information on the next CPP Review Programme (in preparation for the Nov 1 examination) click below:
http://www.arc-tc.com/pages/asis_cpp_psp.asp#asis1
