5 February 2018 - Working Toward Peace

It was my first undergraduate management course that I first encountered Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  Abraham Maslow first described this pattern of human motivation in a paper that he wrote in 1943 and later refined in his 1954 book.  This hierarchy is often depicted as a pyramid with our basic needs at the base and self-actualization – reaching one's full potential – at the top.  According to Maslow’s theory, a person cannot reach his/her full potential unless the deficiency needs are met.  Additionally, a person needs to satisfy the lower needs before s/he can find success in addressing the higher-level needs.  As presented in the course, helping employees satisfy these needs is powerful motivation.

Use Bottle Caps to Eradicate Polio

Rotarian Rainer Späth approaches a box in the entrance to his local supermarket in Wertinger, Germany.  Using a small shovel, he transfers piles of plastic bottle caps to a yellow sack.  The 69-year-old retiree has not resorted to garbage collection, rather he is participating a service project initiated by the Rotary Club of Dillingen a.d. Donau, Germany.  In addition to the bottle caps, the Rotarians are collecting plastic lids, drink packs, and tubes in the region.  These plastics are more valuable due to the amount of oil they contain as opposed to other plastics such as the rest of the bottle.  Rainer’s Rotary Club is using the proceeds in Rotary International’s efforts to end polio.