Research objectives and hypothesis/research questions:
The article aims to signal a change in the approach to managing human teams by attempting to condense knowledge based on existing theories resulting from research in terms of human needs. The article will attempt to systematize the ladder of human needs anew, taking into account the culture of the European population. This results from the hypothesis that human needs are the sum of culture and region, as Bronisław Malinowski already noticed during his research on wild animals at the beginning of the 20th century. The validity of examining whether the need for security should be the dominant human need was also adopted as a research problem.

Research methods:
To achieve the goal, the analysis method was used and criticism of the literature of existing research by Bronisław Malinowski, Abraham Maslow, Clayton P. Alderfer, Frederick Herzberg and David C. McClelland. The comparison of the research results of these scientists will allow the development of conclusions using the method of analysis and logical construction, which will be used to legitimately update the pyramid of needs, taking into account contemporary European culture. The method of deduction and induction of the proposed solutions and case studies will be useful in the course of research, which will allow for an in-depth approach to the issue while verifying the hypothesis.

Main results:
As a result of the logical combination of basic and higher needs, an updated pyramid was proposed. Of course, the basis for its creation was the current pyramid by A. Maslow, which, as a result of few but justified and necessary modifications, obtained its final form with a particularly exposed role of the need for security. The article presents arguments supported by case studies, based on which it was concluded that security must be ensured to meet existential needs. As a consequence, the proposal of a modified pyramid of needs has the potential to change the view on the current model of managing human teams in an organization in terms of European culture and region.

Implications for theory and practice:
The article presents selected theories of human needs and motivation by researchers such as: A. Maslow’s pyramid, C.P. Alderfer’s ERG theory, Frederick Herzberg's two-factor motivation theory and David C. McClelland's theory.