Which is a key similarity between the Motivation Theories of Alderfer and McClelland?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Starting with a look at the theories involved, Alderfer's ERG theory categorizes human needs into Existence, Relatedness, and Growth, while McClelland's theory centers on the needs for Achievement, Affiliation (which parallels Relatedness), and Power.

Option 1: "Need for great relationships". This phrasing aligns best with the Relatedness/Affiliation component found in both theories: Alderfer explicitly includes Relatedness, and McClelland highlights Affiliation as a social/relational need. This makes it a plausible commonality between the two frameworks.

Option 2: "Need to achieve success". This corresponds to McClelland's Need for Achievement but does not map to a direct, parallel category in Alderfer's model; Alderfer does not name a distinct 'Achievement' need. Therefore, as a similarity between the two theories, this option is weaker or incorrect.

Option 3: "Need to constantly learn". While Growth is a part of Alderfer's model, the phrase "constantly learn" is not a standard labeled need in McClelland's framework (which is structured around Achievement, Affiliation, and Power). This option introduces a concept that is not consistently recognized across both theories as a shared element.

Option 4: "All of the above/below". Since the previous options do not all reflect a shared similarity, claiming all of the above would be inaccurate. Each option must be evaluated on its own merits, and here the alignment is not uniform across all items.

In summary, connecting the theories to a common element requires matching formal categories: Relatedness/Affiliation stands out as the shared component, whereas the other items either refer to distinct needs in only one theory or are ambiguously worded. The reasoning suggests Option 1 best captures a key similarity between Alderfer and McClelland, with the others not aligning as consistently across both frameworks.

33:620:302:12 MANAGEMENT SKILLS Midterm Section 12 - Fall 2025

Which is a key similarity between the Motivation Theories of Alderfer and McClelland?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

What do content theories of motivation examine?

Alderfer’s ERG theory differs from Maslow’s because it:

Content theories of motivation are primarily focused on addressing questions of:

Maslow’s hierarchy emphasizes Need while McClelland’s theory emphasizes Motivation.

According to the video Equity and Expectancy theories are similar because

Which of the below is NOT a difference between Maslow's hierarchy of needs and ERG (Existence-Relatedness-Growth) theory?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler