In this post we will be looking into project resource management. Project resource management as stated by Kathy Schwalbe “includes the processes required to make the most effective use of the human and physical resources (facilities, equipment, materials, supplies, etc.) (Schwalbe 377).” Resource management is important to project development because people are the key piece to the project. That being said managing people can be very difficult due to all the differences in personalities and perspectives that everyone has. As a project manager it is up to you find the best way to deal with these differences to bring your team together as a cohesive unit. Over time there have been many studies on how to better manage and lead people. These methods have been key pieces to resource management as they provide you with the knowledge to better handle situations based upon the person or team that you are engaged with. One of the more known and commonly used types of these methods is Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In this post we will briefly review who Abraham Maslow is, what each hierarchy consist of, and how this approach can be used in agile project resource management.
Who is Abraham Maslow?
Abraham Maslow was and American psychologist, born in Brooklyn, New York. Maslow is credited, in 1943, with creating the hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s hierarch of needs focuses on the idea that a person’s behavior is motivated or driven by a sequence of needs. Using a pyramid diagram Maslow broke these needs down into 5 major sections (from bottom to top): Physiological, Safety, Social, Esteem, and Self-actualization. These 5 layers were broken down into two different types of needs, the first four be considered deficiency needs and self-actualization begin a growth need.
“Deficiency needs arise due to deprivation and are said to motivate people when they are unmet… growth need don’t stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person (McLeod).”
Since Maslow’s original creation of this hierarchy there have been a few additional layers that have been added consisting of cognitive needs, aesthetic needs, and transcendence. All three of these additions have been considered growth needs. In this post however, we will be focusing on the original five levels. We will begin discussing these levels by start at the bottom with physiological.
Physiological
The lowest level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is physiological needs. These needs consist of basic biological things for human survival such as food, air, water, shelter, clothing, etc. As you can see even though it is the lowest level it is by far the most important. You can’t function properly is you can’t satisfy this need. An example of how physiological needs can affect a person could be if someone is struggling financially. Outside of air money is needed for pretty much all physiological needs so by having financial problems it could lead to that person been stressed and unfocused on their work which could cause more issues in the future. Satisfying this level of needs is crucial to having a feeling of security and being able to proceed to the next level.
Safety
The next level that we have in the hierarchy is safety. As stated in the last section a person can’t make it to this level unless their physiological needs are met. When it comes to safety needs, people want to be in a controlled situation in life. Having order and a level of predictability allows a person to feel more secure in their surroundings. Ways that people tend to satisfy this need can be moving to a better neighborhood, going to better schools, better medical care, financial security, law enforcement and social stability are just to name a few. Once a person feels that their safety needs are meet then they will look at the next level social needs.
Social
The middle level of Maslow’s hierarchy revolves around social needs. Social needs, which also could be referred to belongingness needs, consist of a person’s need to be involved. Relationships, friendships and being a part of a group are all involved in this level. Once at this level a person what to have a level of trust and acceptance among peers and a level of intimacy and love with those who they are close to. This level seems to show a person as they starting to really come into their own and in a sense putting themselves out into the world more. After meeting one’s social needs, we reach the final deficiency needs esteem.
Esteem
The fourth level and final deficiency needs, esteem, focuses on self-worth, respect, and accomplishment. Self esteem levels can affect a person all the time depending on how they are feeling. At this level in the hierarchy however, there’s a strong chance that your esteem is fairly high. Maslow broke down esteem into two sections: esteem for oneself and the desire for reputation/ respect from others. When looking at esteem for oneself, a person is trying to show independence and dignity while on the other hand they are looking for status when they want respect from others. Finally, we have reached the top of the hierarchy.
Self-actualization
The top of the hierarchy pyramid and the only initial growth needs is self-actualization. Self-actualization is the realization of “person’s potential, self fulfilment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences (McLeod).” An example of this is a person wanting to be a good parent or a student wanting to get straight A’s for a school year. At this level people seek to reach their peak at any thing that they want to accomplish, which helps them become a better version of themselves.
Maslow’s Hierarchy and Agile
Incorporating Maslow’s hierarchy into agile can be a little odd but it is doable. As a project manager it is your goal to recognize where members of your team are regarding the hierarchy pyramid. Being able to recognize this can help you find the best alternative to approach each member with task. Having and realizing people who have reached the esteem or self-actualization levels is a benefit as those people are more likely to be willing to participate and more motivated. That being said it is also important to be able to acknowledge is someone’s levels have fluctuated. This happens throughout life, so being able to recognize that a project manager helps you find ways to motivate those people who are usually up and provide support to those who may have gone down.
Works Cited
McLeod, Saul. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html#needs7. Published 29 Dec 2020
Schwalbe, Kathy. Information Technology Project Management. Boston, MA: Course Technology, 2019. Print.
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