Why do people work? - Project Management Application: Clinical Trial

RE: Why do people work?

BenjaminRofail — Mon, 05 May 2025 02:30:05 +0000

I personally believed that compensation was a larger part of why people work. It was both comforting and motivating to see that people work to make a difference, to help others, and to feel fulfilled. This is the exact cause of the human mission. One must live for others, to give themselves for others. Whether that be in working to provide for another, or that by one's work, someone else is helped. In the modern age, work has taken on a veil of tiresome hours, stress, and many difficulties. But at the core of the issue, work is the area in which a human exerts effort to better themselves and others. It is the perfect demonstration of ethic, morals, and community.

RE: Why do people work?

sm2744 — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 18:13:57 +0000

Honestly, I'm not too surprised by the results of the study. For me personally, my top 3 motivators to work for a specific company would be, in no particular order, working with great people, having exciting and challenging work, and be recognized/valued & respected. As adults, given that we don't have WFH, we're going to be near our coworkers for a vast majority of our day. It would be horrible to come into work and dislike the people around you. Working with people who don't help you become a better person or are friendly could impact your own performance, as for example, I wouldn't want to come into such a place. Having exciting and challenging work is also important for me because I personally need stimulation to have motivation. When you do the same thing over and over again with no changes, you face a burnout. Working in a place like that would definitely result in me probably looking for another opportunity elsewhere. Finally, I think that it is also important to be recognized, valued, and respected. I've had it happen before where I was complimented on how I handled things by other individuals involved in the project, but was heavily criticized by my manager because it was not the way that they would have done it. That interaction had further solidified to me that I do not want to work in an environment like that, one where the person who you report to does not uplift you or recognize the hard work you put in to pull things off the best that you can that were out of your area of expertise, while other more senior members of the team are saying the opposite and are thankful and impressed with your work.

RE: Why do people work?

veron_perez — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 02:34:11 +0000

These results don't really surprise me because when I look over them and reflect on myself, I can agree that these couple attributes would be important for me. Out of the results shown I would have to agree and say that the ‘exciting and challenging work’, ‘working with great people’ and being ‘recognized/valued or respected’ would be key motivators for me when I work. Having exciting and challenging work would allow there to never be a dull moment. In most situations, constant repetition can be tiring and can be draining. After a while it can make heading to work a bit boring without some excitement so challenges and exciting work would be a priority. Working with great people is also a great motivator because even if a job is difficult or very time consuming, the people around you could be the ‘make it or break it’ point. They could make the assignments and tasks manageable because the environment is friendly and there would be the air that each person can rely on each other. And finally being recognized/valued and respected is a very important factor for me personally. It is very disheartening to work hard every time at work and there is little to no recognition. It makes the person feel like another cog in a machine of a company. So having some value and being respected can help to ensure that people are appreciated for their work.

RE: Why do people work?

vv48 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:45:07 +0000

A good motivator for me is fair pay, which resembles the responsibilities you need to take care of in the company. The more responsibilities you are in charge of, the more money they need to pay you. Also, personal and professional growth takes immense importance in work performance. It is important to say that the work environment is a plus too. If you are happy working with people that contribute to a positive atmosphere at work, then the job becomes easier to perform. The results of that study are not a surprise to me, people find stability in their lives by having a job where they can make a difference to the world while getting paid. If one factor is not reached, then the job environment becomes troubled and people find discomfort; therefore, they start looking for a new job.

RE: Why do people work?

hk425 — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:40:40 +0000

These results are not surprising because of the way corporations work. Many people are motivated by challenging work that has good career growth prospects and great pay because that’s what people need to live comfortably in our society. Fair pay, working with great people, career growth, etc., all come when you are able to acquire higher work positions, and when people get to these positions, the work seems worth their hard work. Because it allows them to lead a very comfortable life. Most people don’t care about doing meaningful work because it’s unrealistic for work to be meaningful and come with all the benefits a regular corporate job would. Pursuing meaningful work while trying to live in a society requires privilege that a regular corporate employee cannot afford. In addition, ‘meaningful work’ is subjective and can differ from one person to another. Someone may find working in developing countries meaningful, while another person may find a job with flexible hours/location meaningful because that’s what allows them to live how they want. In addition, employees who do meaningful or impactful work, such as research, are severely underfunded and underpaid. My motivation to work is to challenge myself and push my boundaries as to what I can accomplish.

RE: Why do people work?

mb846 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:22:29 +0000

The results of the study that was referenced is not too surprising. At the top we have exciting and challenging at 48%, career growth and development at 43%, and working with great people at 42%, which is not surprising. I think it is crucial to be in a good environment with good projects and colleagues. People also want to feel challenged and engaged in their work and have some opportunities for professional growth, while working with people they respect and enjoy being around coworkers. It is difficult to show up to a place everyday and hate the work that is being done and the people around you. You end up becoming very resentful and that would also affect your performance. I am a little surprised about fair pay at 32% and benefits at 22%. I believe that financial stability is important and being compensated for the work being done is crucial. Another surprising percentage is benefits. Benefits include health insurance, vacation days, and retirement plans. These benefits provide overall job satisfaction and can provide a sense of fulfillment.

RE: Why do people work?

Wk46 — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:29:41 +0000

I think these results have significantly changed since the study. I remember at some point in the lecture videos, the professor mentioned unemployment was around 10%. This indicates that the lecture was made near the 2008 recession. Yes, people had to stick with whatever job they could have, because it was unlikely that they would be rehired anytime soon. However, in today's economy, the unemployment rate is at a record low. Ignoring the clear signs of recession that could easily change this status, I believe that exciting and challenging work as a whole category is unlikely the major motivator. I have noticed significant increases in employee dissatisfaction due to major disruptions such as COVID, remote work, and inflation. Fair pay is likely the greatest motivator if the study were to be redone today, due to the clear increase in financial hardships. Another factor I believe would be much higher today would be meaningful work/make a difference. In the past few years, people have been much more ideologically focused and are imparting their values onto their jobs and some companies have been changing their work environment to reflect that. Although ideals don't equate to meaningful work/make a difference, it's the closest category and I can imagine people viewing a relatable work environment as something to aspire to in a job.

RE: Why do people work?

sah67 — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:22:35 +0000

Hello,

The results of the study are consistent with other studies that have been conducted in the past, which suggest that employees are motivated by factors such as challenging work, career growth, and working with great people. However, the relative importance of these factors may vary depending on the employee's personal values, needs, and goals. It's not surprising that the top motivators for employees are related to their work's content and context, such as the nature of their tasks, the opportunities for growth, and the relationships with their colleagues and supervisors. These factors have been found to be critical in fostering engagement, job satisfaction, and retention. Personally, I would not enjoy my job thoroughly if it was not related to my interests. Furthermore, the world is run by money and a majority of employees would not be satisfied with their work if they did not receive fair/good pay.

RE: Why do people work?

ahmadfarhan — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 03:08:30 +0000

Most of research works on a prestige system where your studies are used to get more grants to fund further studies. Many people who get into research are probably looking to be challenged and recognized, while working for people who are great. The result of the survey does not surprise me as one of the reasons why I was initially was inclined on wanting to work in a lab was to learn from people who knew a lot more than me. It also stopped me from getting bored with the work as it continuously kept me engaged since there is always something to improve or learn from.

RE: Why do people work?

DevDesai — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 03:03:46 +0000

I was surprised that fair pay was lower on the list. Although I do believe that career advancement can lead to fair pay. Personally, my main motivator is career advancement and personal development. It is important to have a goal to work towards while working at a company. Moving up in the company and taking on new and additional responsibilities is crucial for self development. This is especially helpful when you find a company that you really enjoy working at, whether its due to the coworkers or the company culture and mission.