Creating a productive workplace environment is essential to the survival of any business, yet creating such an environment is no easy task (McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2003). There are numerous factors involved with creating such an environment, and these factors often become moving targets with the increasing diversity in the today's workforce. Some of these factors that will be discussed include the concept of employees being partners, motivating employees, what makes people tick, and harmony in the workplace.
             The article entitled "Employees or Partners?" Zall (2003) uses Maslows Hierarchy of Needs as a model. The author explains that the hierarchy is a series of steps that must be fulfilled in sequence before moving to the next step. The author goes on to say that understanding the hierarchy is an important issue to motivating employees. Once an understanding of the hierarchy has been developed, managers can use it motivate employees. By becoming acquainted with their employees, managers can determine what level of the hierarchy their employees are on. With this information, managers can then determine what motivating factors may work for their employees. Along with the use of Maslows hierarchy, the author suggests that organizations should create a corporate environment that fosters a supportive work environment. Creating a culture of encouraged initiative will create greater results than an environment of competition between employees. Over the last 25 years, two models that encourage innovative workplace practices have evolved. One is lean production, which relies on employee involvement and the other is team production which relies on employee empowerment. Both models have proven beneficial in the workplace.
             Iona Bower (2003) interviewed leading psychologist David King (2003) who addresses the issues surrounding the survival of an organization as relative to the motivation of its employees. The article entitled "...