The relationship between motivation, job satisfaction, and workplace conflict

Org Behavior

What is the relationship between motivation and job satisfaction?

The definition of motivation is "a process of arousing and sustaining goal-directed behavior induced by the expectation of satisfying individual needs." ("Motivation in Organization," 2005) in other words, to use the infamous example of the donkey pulling a cart, led by a carrot, one is more inclined to move towards a goal when one is properly motivated. Not every employee, thankfully, is motivated by purely physiological or tangible needs, like a donkey. Pay, incentives, bonuses, and promotion are all ways to increase motivation in employees to perform to a higher standard. However, esteem of one's colleagues on a work team, or simply in one's organizational hierarchy, can also motivate an employee to go above and beyond the expected. When one feels one is praised, and will be rewarded, one is more motivated, and more inclined to do a good job -- but one also needs to feel the job is worth doing. Job satisfaction is usually directly correlated to feeling motivated to perform for less than tangible rewards -- for instance, a highly competent and satisfied nurse may stay late to help a patient through a difficult night, even if she receives no additional remuneration, and someone who feels he or she has been well-taken care of by his or her company, and thus feels satisfied with his or her employment, is more apt to feel motivated to work hard at his or her job.

How can effective conflict management increase productivity of groups?