Learning Motive- A New Motivational Theory in Development Sector

The solutions in development sector require high level of creativity & innovations. No two solutions to development issues will be same. ( Total Cycle of solutions). The motivational approach among development workers/ professionals need to be different than other sectors. What Maslow gave the hierarchy of needs for motivation requires to be redefined. The hierarchy defined by him was 1- Physiological Needs 2- Security Need, 3- Social Needs (Status etc.), 4- Ego Needs & 5- Self actualization.. In the development sector or creative sectors or in project management in between 4th & 5th there is another need. Learning Need. Thus 5th will be Learning Need & 7th will be Self Actualization.

I had been using this motive in motivating our research professionals for a long time. It has been very successful. I ask the person what is the cheapest method of learning & what is the costliest mode of learning. After a bit of head scratching by them it is concluded that reading from a book about the subject might be the cheapest & fast method of learning & actually working on actual problem (i.e. Practical ) is the costliest & time consuming mode of learning. Total budget in a development project runs into crores of rupees. No individual can spend money in billions on its own to attain the same level of learning. This would mean if a person does not work whole heartedly on the problem he will be loosing the learning opportunity in equal or higher proportion. Therefore they should honestly work on the problem for increasing the level of learning from the project. This motive has proved itself very effective.

Kindly comment on this motive.

Dr S K Trivedi