Page 40 - IMDR - Journal of Management Development and Research - March2019-20

A Study on Motivation and Self Actualisation For Professionals In

st
SMEs in The 21 Century

Himali M. Natekar, Research Scholar, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune

Dr. Susheel P Kandalgaonkar, Former Director IMDR Pune

ABSTRACT: This paper aims to understand the concept of Self actualisation based
on Maslow’s hierarchy of human need in today’s modern context and its relevance for

the modern professional in SMEs. It begins with understanding the concept of
disillusioned professional in SMEs and goes ahead to discuss human potential at

length. It then talks about the concept of whole man and throws light upon the fact

that conventional definitions of a complete individual are short sighted and there is no
standard definition of success or completeness of an individual. Finally, there is a

discussion on market and personality market and how personality hype takes over real
substance in today’s contemporary world.

keywords : Motivation, Self actualisation, Whole Man

Introduction

Abraham Maslow’s model of hierarchy of human need (1940) is a well-known theory

in management literature. Maslow’s hierarchy theory gained popularity primarily due
to its easy interpretation and intuitive appeal. Maslow has pointed to an evolvement of

the human middle-class values as a sequence which progresses from lower order
needs to higher order needs. Needless to say, it has a feelgood factor with a hope that

‘self-esteem and self-actualisation’ would be accessible to all of us, and psychological

growth and maturity is as inevitable as physical growth of human body.
Hierarchy of needs theory promotes an understanding that adults live in a need

context of silos and they do not aspire or hold a higher need level unless lower level

of need is satisfied. In other words, a person who is deprived of material resources
like food, shelter and clothes would not desire to satisfy his/her need for love, self-

esteem and self-actualisation. This is certainly not our experience of living in a
society. We find that the poor are as conscious as or even more so, of self-respect than

the affluent class. Similarly, a tribal may have more concern for community living
and love for fellow beings and nature without having any economic security. In

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