Biographie de frederick irving herzberg biography

1. Biography of Frederick Irving Herzberg
2. Early Life and Education
3. Research and Contributions

Biography of Frederick Irving Herzberg

Frederick Irving Herzberg was an American psychologist who became one of the most influential figures in the field of business management. He gained recognition as the author of the two-factor theory of motivation, which introduced the concept of motivators and hygiene factors.

Early Life and Education

Frederick Irving Herzberg was born on April 17, He studied at the City College of the City University of New York, but left his studies during his final year to join the army. As a patrol sergeant, he was one of the first allied troops to enter the Dachau concentration camp. The experiences and conversations with Germans living in the area sparked his interest in the issue of motivation.

After being discharged, Herzberg returned to City College and graduated in He then pursued his graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, known for its medical research. During this time, he also taught psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Later, he joined the School of Business at the University of Utah and held a professorship in management.

Research and Contributions

In the mids, Herzberg led research efforts at the consulting company Psychological Service of Pittsburgh, which provided him with extensive opportunities for data collection. Throughout the latter half of the s, he dedicated his time to developing his theories and conducting research. The result was the two-factor theory of motivation, which was published in This theory explains the factors that contribute to an employee's satisfaction with their work.

According to this theory, people are influenced by two groups of factors: motivators and hygiene factors. Hygiene factors, such as salary, administration policies, relationships with colleagues, and working conditions, keep employees in their jobs but do not necessarily lead to job satisfaction or motivation. On the other hand, motivators, including achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, and career growth, significantly increase work efficiency.

Herzberg's research and the division of factors led to several conclusions that are still used in the field of management today. His publication "One More Time, How Do You Motivate Employees?" based on his research, became widely popular and by had sold million copies, making it the most sought-after article from the Harvard Business Review.

Frederick Irving Herzberg's contributions to the field of management and motivation continue to have a lasting impact on how organizations understand and motivate their employees.