Motivation and the academic – where the drivers sit
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key drivers for motivation within a small team of academics within a relatively small UK university.
Design/methodology/approach
The research follows a combined interpretivist and ethnographic stance and using a mixed methods approach.
Findings
The research identifies that fundamentally academics are driven by the desire for expertise and a search for meaning, while material reward and a need for power play a low significance in their forces. Also increase in managerialism has led to reductions in motivation.
Research limitations/implications
The paper provides a limited focus due to the nature of being a small scale study.
Practical implications
The paper considers the drivers which motivate academics. Managers and HR departments may consider approaches to managing and leading individuals to achieve improved organisational performance.
Originality/value
The paper focuses on motivational drivers within the academy.
Keywords
Citation
Johnston, A. (2016), "Motivation and the academic – where the drivers sit", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 765-777. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-09-2015-0140
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited