Abstract
Problem – A rating in human resources reveals that the level of motivation among employees in the Danish Defense have been dropping over the last years. This thesis investigates how a platoon commander at 1CIS Coy at the signal regiment influences his or her employees’ intrinsic motivation. Employees at 1CIS Coy can be categorized as specialists, and are more technical competent then their leader. Leading them requires a different approach, if the leader were to increase the intrinsic motivation.
Design - By interviewing 18 respondents, working as privates, sergeants and officers in 1CIS Coy, and analyzing their answers through Daniel Pinks theoretical apparatus that relies on autonomy, mastery and purpose, the do’s and don’ts for the platoon commander become evident.
Findings – The employees must be empowered in order to experience intrinsic motivation, which required trust between platoon commander and employees. Mastering their respective field and exercising autonomy is of paramount importance, which the platoon commander must keep in mind at all times. Further, a purpose canalizes that energy to the actual task, with purpose being both the higher meaning of working for the Danish Defense and the purpose of the specific task.
Conclusion – The platoon commander’s ability to include employees in the decision-making process and giving them liberty to perform as they see best fit, is crucial for autonomy, and the composition of teams has a direct effect on the intrinsic motivation. The employees’ opportunity to practice and become better within their field is one of the most vital elements of which intrinsic motivation is built upon. By keeping irrelevant and disturbing information from them, they may enter the stage of flow. The platoon commander’s awareness of the correlation between social interactions and dialogues, and the employees’ perception of the purpose, makes it possible for the platoon commander to use purpose to influence the intrinsic motivation of the employees.
Recommendation – The platoon commander should seek to implement autonomy and mastery within the limitations that the structure and task in the Danish Defense allows, and use purpose to mobilize the energy towards fulfilling the given task. By focusing on the social aspects when aiming to create trust over time, the platoon commander’s influence on the intrinsic motivation becomes easier.