This document discusses motivation and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It defines motivation and explains its importance in achieving organizational goals and improving employee performance. It then provides an overview of Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs theory, which proposes that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs first, and later move on to social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. The hierarchy includes physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. The document also notes some criticisms of Maslow's theory.