Discussion on how to motive and retain employees in China by exploring the factors influencing employee enthusiasm at work -- applying two-factory theory in P&G employees

Abstract: This research discusses how to motive and retain employees in China based on analyzing factors influencing employee enthusiasm and strategies to motivate employees under the framework of Herzberg’s two-factor theory. With the proposition that hygiene factors and motivators both influence the work enthusiasm, 15 interviews were arranged to collect the needed data for further analysis. According to the information obtained from the 15 interviewees from P&G, hygiene factors and motivators all exert influences over their work behaviors and the impact of the factors differs according to the different conditions of the employees. The findings of this research generally agree with the two-factor theory. Based on how the work enthusiasm of P&G’s employees are influenced by each of the factors, strategies are correspondingly formulated to motivate employees at work. Generally speaking, this research is significant for being conducted from a microscopic perspective to the macroscopic perspective. In other words, a specific organization is studied to figure out the answers to the research questions and the findings can be used for future studies as well for practical purposes. More specifically, when conducting this study, such factors as unsatisfying wages and benefits, heavy workload, task conflicts, ambiguous duties, interpersonal conflicts and ineffective management system, etc., all discourage the enthusiasm of employees. In response to that, a reasonable management system and sound motivational mechanism should be established to keep employees active at work or retain those who want to resign.