Syllabus: SQA - Higher Course Spec Business Management
Module: Management of People
Lesson: Motivation and Leadership

Introduction

This lesson focuses on Motivation and Leadership, part of the “Management of People” unit within the SQA Higher Business Management course. It equips learners with an understanding of how leadership styles and motivation techniques impact employee performance and business outcomes. This content sits within the broader context of understanding internal business functions, as outlined in the SQA course specification. For teachers and SLT, it’s an opportunity to link directly to assessment standards while making core concepts engaging and applicable to real-world workplace behaviour.

Key Concepts

The SQA Higher Business Management course outlines several key learning outcomes in this area:

• Motivation Theories: Students are expected to understand and apply key theories, including:

  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Motivation through need fulfilment from basic to self-actualisation.

  • Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory: Distinction between hygiene factors and motivators.

  • McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y: Assumptions managers make about employees.

  • Taylor’s Scientific Management: Motivation through pay and productivity targets.

• Motivational Methods:

  • Financial: Overtime, bonuses, profit-sharing.

  • Non-financial: Job enrichment, empowerment, flexible working, praise and recognition.

• Leadership Styles:

  • Autocratic: Task-focused and directive.

  • Democratic: Inclusive and collaborative.

  • Laissez-faire: Delegation-heavy, with minimal direction.

Students should be able to describe, compare, and evaluate these theories and approaches, and apply them to case studies or workplace scenarios.

Real-World Relevance

Motivation and leadership aren’t just academic ideas—they shape everyday business decisions. Take John Lewis, where employee ownership supports long-term motivation through shared profits. Or look at BrewDog, which started with a flat structure and open leadership but shifted strategy as it scaled—prompting discussions about the sustainability of laissez-faire leadership in larger firms.

The pandemic also reshaped how we view motivation. Hybrid working models demand new thinking: autonomy, trust, and employee wellbeing have become critical to retention. These shifts create timely, real-world angles for classroom discussion and critical analysis.

How It’s Assessed

Students will encounter this topic in both Paper 1 (case study-based) and Paper 2 (short- and extended-answer questions). Key assessment features include:

• Command words: Explain, compare, analyse, evaluate.

• Skills tested:

  • Application of motivation theories to specific business contexts.

  • Evaluation of leadership style effectiveness in different scenarios.

  • Structured responses showing cause and effect (e.g. “This leadership style might lead to… which results in…”).

• Marking focus:

  • Clarity and depth of explanation.

  • Balanced evaluation.

  • Use of business examples or scenarios.

A strong answer doesn’t just define theory—it applies it critically to the case at hand.

Enterprise Skills Integration

This topic is a perfect springboard for developing enterprise capabilities such as:

• Decision-making: Choosing the right motivational approach for a given business challenge.

• Problem-solving: Analysing why a team underperforms and identifying suitable leadership responses.

• Critical thinking: Evaluating the long-term impact of different leadership strategies.

• Communication: Justifying strategic choices clearly and persuasively—key to both assessment and the workplace.

Group tasks can simulate leadership dilemmas or HR scenarios, allowing students to practise these skills in realistic contexts.

Careers Links

Motivation and leadership are fundamental in any sector, making this topic highly relevant to Gatsby Benchmarks 4 and 5:

• Relevant careers:

  • Human Resources Officer

  • Team Leader or Supervisor

  • Management Trainee

  • Operations Manager

  • Business Consultant

This lesson helps students understand what makes an effective leader and how businesses retain and develop their workforce—skills vital for roles in business, management, retail, hospitality, and public services.

Teaching Notes

Practical tips:

• Use role play or leadership simulations to explore style differences.

• Discuss recent workplace trends (e.g. remote working, 4-day week) and link to motivation theories.

• Use short, anonymised case studies from real companies to prompt discussion.

Common pitfalls:

• Students often confuse motivation methods with outcomes—emphasise the why behind the approach.

• Theories can become ‘listy’—encourage synthesis and application over simple recall.

Extension activities:

• Invite a local manager to speak about their team leadership.

• Compare leadership styles across industries (e.g. fast food vs. creative industries).

• Set up a team challenge where students must decide on a leadership style and reflect on the results.