Identification of key motivators influencing employee commitment in project teams

This paper aims to identify the motivational factors that have the most significant impact on employee commitment in project teams and to determine their priority.The research was undertaken to address the issue of under-recognition of the hierarchy of employee commitment motivators in project teams.Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted in two phases, conceptual and implementation, between 2023 and 2024.The methodology included an analysis of the literature on factors that motivate and demotivate employees, as well as a questionnaire survey of 100 project staff members from various industries in southwestern Poland.Findings: The study established a hierarchy of factors that motivate employees to work in project teams.Respondents stated that the most important factors included promotion opportunities upon the project's successful completion, remuneration, a clearly defined objective, financial and material rewards, and a friendly atmosphere.The study confirmed the central research hypothesis, indicating a strong and positive relationship between the level of motivation and commitment to the project team.As many as 94% of respondents confirmed that a high level of motivation influences commitment to the project team.Originality/value: The study presented in this paper provides valuable insights for the practice of human resource management, particularly in motivating employees within project teams.The most important finding is the confirmation of a strong link between motivation levels and employee commitment.This means that investment in employee motivation affects their commitment to the project team.