A Study on Motivational Levels of Agricultural Officials

Abstract

One of the most important challenges faced by research management, is to motivate scientists and sustain their motivation for productivity and excellence. Motivation is a term, which denotes the willingness of employees to expand effort and exhibit desired pattern of work behavior in terms of levels of performance and commitment to the work ('Molander and Wiriterton, 1994). Such a concern for excellence is called personal achievement motivation. Most of our research organization s are hierarchical in structure where scientists and team leaders have a crucial role to play in motivating their subordinates and junior scientists. Productivity of technology and scientific innovations are no doubt important, but scientists' capability to meet national and social needs, adequate safeguard to the production resources and natural balance, is of much greater importance. Such human and social concerns in scientists are governed by, what is known as social achievement motivation. Thu s, it is clear that scientists require motivation for social achievement i.e., a concern for improving quality of life of people with the help of science and technology. It involves proactive orientation towards others' sense of vigilance and awareness of peoples' needs and problems. It is a concern for excellence at the work as well as in life, involving social wellbeing. Such a concern could motivate the scientists to think of such technologies and practices, which could result in better life for people. Such a concern has to percolate to all levels in an organization so that the work climate itself becomes social achievement oriented