Syllabus: Pearson Edexcel AS Business
Module: Managing People
Lesson: 1.4.4 Motivation in Theory and Practice

Introduction

This article supports delivery of Pearson Edexcel AS Business, Theme 1: Marketing and People – Section 1.4.4 Motivation in theory and practice. Motivation plays a central role in managing people effectively, making it a cornerstone of human resource management. Students explore how both financial and non-financial methods are used by firms to improve employee performance and satisfaction.

In a curriculum context, this topic links directly to real workplace dynamics. It provides students with analytical frameworks to explain employee behaviour and practical tools for evaluating how motivation strategies impact business performance. It’s a high-leverage topic for connecting theory with workplace reality – exactly the kind of content that supports both strong exam outcomes and longer-term employability.

Key Concepts

According to the Pearson Edexcel AS Business specification, students are required to understand:

• The importance of employee motivation: How motivation influences productivity, retention, and organisational success.

• Motivation theories, including:

  • Taylor’s scientific management

  • Mayo’s human relations approach

  • Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

  • Herzberg’s two-factor theory

• Financial incentives, such as:

  • Piecework

  • Commission

  • Bonus schemes

  • Profit sharing

  • Performance-related pay

• Non-financial incentives, including:

  • Delegation

  • Consultation

  • Empowerment

  • Team working

  • Flexible working

  • Job enrichment and job rotation

Students should be able to apply, analyse, and evaluate how different methods work in different business contexts.

Real-World Relevance

Motivation theory isn’t just academic – it’s visible in nearly every successful (or failing) business. For instance:

• Amazon’s warehouse operations often draw criticism for their productivity-driven incentives, a model rooted in Taylorist principles. Students could debate the trade-offs between efficiency and employee wellbeing.

• Google famously uses Herzberg-inspired motivators – autonomy, purpose, and job enrichment – to sustain high engagement.

• During the pandemic, many organisations shifted to flexible and remote working, offering real-time examples of non-financial motivators impacting morale and retention.

Mini case idea: “Compare how Aldi and John Lewis Partnership use contrasting motivation strategies, including performance-related pay at Aldi and profit-sharing at John Lewis.”

How It’s Assessed

In Edexcel AS Business assessments, motivation appears in various ways:

• Short-answer and application questions asking students to define or explain motivation techniques in context.

• Data response questions that include a business scenario, with prompts like:

  • “Analyse one non-financial method this business could use to motivate employees.”

  • “Evaluate the usefulness of Herzberg’s theory for this business.”

• Essay-style questions may involve extended evaluation of motivation strategies in a given case study.

Command words to watch for include: Explain, Analyse, Evaluate, Justify – all requiring students to move beyond description into structured argument.

Enterprise Skills Integration

Motivation theory naturally supports enterprise competencies. For example:

• Problem-solving: Students weigh up the suitability of different strategies based on context.

• Decision-making: Choosing which method would best boost motivation in a business case.

• Communication: Developing arguments around people management – vital for leadership discussions.

• Resilience and reflection: Understanding what drives performance and how to support others’ motivation also develops students’ self-awareness and empathy.

Using tools like MarketScope AI, students can simulate HR decisions and see the implications of different motivational strategies on business outcomes – ideal for engaging enterprise projects.

Careers Links

This topic links to Gatsby Benchmarks 4 and 5 (linking curriculum to careers and employer encounters). It’s especially relevant for roles such as:

• Human Resources Officer

• Team Leader or Supervisor

• Operations Manager

• Learning & Development Specialist

• Retail and Hospitality Managers

You can enhance delivery with virtual employer insights or alumni stories. For example, interview a former student who now works in HR about how they use motivation theory daily.

Teaching Notes

Tips for Effective Delivery

• Use interactive group tasks: e.g. students roleplay as HR managers tasked with motivating a demotivated team.

• Debate-driven lessons work well: e.g. “Money is the most effective motivator – agree or disagree?”

• Include diagnostic activities at the start to uncover preconceptions around what motivation means.

Common Pitfalls

• Over-simplifying theories: Maslow’s hierarchy isn’t always linear or universal.

• Teaching strategies in isolation: Encourage students to consider combinations of financial and non-financial approaches.

Extension Activities

• Set a case analysis task using current HR news articles.

• Introduce Pitch Deck Analyser to build business plans that integrate staff motivation as a core element.