- A.Applying Maslow's five-tier hierarchy to employee motivation — physiological (pay), safety (job security), belonging (team), esteem (recognition), self-actualization (purpose).
- B.Herzberg distinguished hygiene factors (cause dissatisfaction if absent) from motivators (cause satisfaction if present) — the two operate independently. ✓
- C.Kurt Lewin's three-stage model — Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze — the foundational framework for organizational change management.
- D.Herzberg distinguished hygiene factors (cause dissatisfaction if absent) from motivators (cause satisfaction if present) — the two operate independently.
Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory is herzberg distinguished hygiene factors (cause dissatisfaction if absent) from motivators (cause satisfaction if present) — the two operate independently. The other options describe related but distinct concepts in Management & Organization — see the deep-dive guide for the full distinction.
How to think about questions like this
Hygiene fixes don't motivate; motivator investment doesn't fix dissatisfaction. Questions like this test whether you can distinguish Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory from neighboring concepts. The most common trap is choosing a closely-related concept that sounds similar but applies in a different context.
When you see a definition question on an exam, do two things: (1) translate the question into your own words, then (2) generate the answer in your own words before reading the options. This avoids the cognitive bias of recognizing a familiar phrase as correct just because it is familiar.