Relationship between Employees’ Cultural Background and Work Motivation (According to McClelland’s Need Theory of Motivation)

The study aimed to determine the relationship between employee cultural background and their work motivation based on McClelland’s Need Motivation Theory. The participants were selected from three different cultural backgrounds included Asian, Middle Eastern and Western. The questionnaires was provided to the participants which based on McClelland’s Need Motivation theory. The data was analysed with SPSS program and implemented one-way and ANOVA testing. The result found Asian participants had high achievement motivation as compared to Western participants but not as compared to Middle Eastern participants, who showed to have high achievement motivation as compared to their two other counterparts rather than having high affiliation motivation. Interestingly enough, Western participants showed to have high affiliation motivation as compared to their other two counterparts rather than having high power motivation. Another interesting discovery made was the similarities in results between the Asian and Middle Eastern participants, as well as the concept of Power Distance being a possible explanation to the high affiliation score Western participants.