Preview

Theory Y and X

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
472 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Theory Y and X
The Moral Character of Management Practice
Roberts J (1984)

Within this journal, John Roberts distinguishes between two types of scientific theories, theory X and theory Y. He relates these two theories on two managers (Dave and Val) who are in the same organization (Telecommunication company), however in different departments. He continues to talk about how they use their management skills on their employees based on theory X and theory Y.

Douglas McGregor, an American Social Psychologist, proposed X-Y theory in his 1960 book “The human side of enterprise”. Theories X and Y are still referred in the field of management and motivation. According to McGregor’s Ideas, he believes there are two fundamental approaches to managing people. Past results show that many managers use theory X, which on average produces poor results. However, open-minded managers use theory y, which produces better performances and results, allowing employees as well as managers to grow and develop within their field of expertise.

Both theories which are explained in the journal have very different but fundamental approaches in managing people. In the journal, Dave uses theory X ('authoritarian management' style) showing that he wishes to follow the targets which have been set and avoid any additional responsibility. Relatively showing that he is not ambitious and does not consider his employees as vital as the success of the business. This as stated in the journal has led Dave’s staff to believe that he has done nothing but used them to achieve what he wants, resulting in no relationship between Dave and his employees.

However, on the other hand, Val uses theory Y (‘Participative management’ style). Val has admitted that she use to treat her employees like children as they were immature however now she feels they have matured, therefore has started to treat them like adults and has changed her ways in which she deals with her employees. Since doing this she has realised that

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Bus/520 Week 1

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Theory Y is based on a set of beliefs that managers should take an empowering approach to management. The average human does not inherently dislike work. Depending on controllable conditions, work may be a source of satisfaction. Rules, top-down managerial control, and the threat of punishment are not the only means for achieving organizational goals. Employees will exercise self-direction and control in the service of goals to which they are committed. The average person learns, under proper conditions, not only to accept but to seek responsibility. The capacity to exercise a relatively high degree of imagination, ingenuity, and creativity in the solution to organizational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population. Based on the above model trait leader role in Theory Y, the leader is there to motivate and direct the motivation of the employees toward organizational goals. Theory Y leaders rely more on the self-control and self-direction of their subordinates. Theory X allows for more individual accountability through micromanagement and workplace techniques while Model Y utilizes more self-monitoring techniques. Leaders don’t necessarily stick to model but they can exercise both models. There are other models that can come into play with leaders such as the Situational Leadership and the V-Room…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    mgt 330

    • 3306 Words
    • 14 Pages

    2. Be familiar with Theory X and Theory Y managers (teachers). (Table 1-2, p. 7) Outdated Theory X – most people hate work and need to be directed, they must be threatened with punishment before they will work….Modern Theory Y – work is natural, people can direct themselves, people will become oriented with organizational goals is they are rewarded for doing so, typical employee can welcome responsibility, typical person is creative, imaginative and has ingenuity.…

    • 3306 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    McGregor grouped employees hierarchy need into lower-order needs (Theory X) and higher-order needs (Theory Y), and opined that “these two opposing perceptions conjectured how people view human behavior at work and organizational life” (Wambugu, 2014). For instance, Theory X assumed that management's role in the organization is to pressurize and control employees to perform based on the insinuation that human beings are pressure seekers who dislike work; do not want responsibility, and have little or no ambition etc. as such it's the duty of managers to make them do their job, and often with threats of punishment in order to get them to achieve the organizational objectives. On the other hand, Theory Y assumed that management's role in an organization involves developing the potential in employees and help them to achieve their maximum potential towards common organizational goals based on the views that people among other things learn to accept and seek responsibility, creativity, ingenuity which will have the potential to boost the organizational performance (Wambugu, 2014). These theories could be used by management either ways to encourage employees, but better results would be gained by the use of Theory Y, rather than Theory X (McGregor,…

    • 3719 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mangers and organisational behaviour our main topics of this subject; managers roles in organisations have changed widely and their importance to perform well has increased massively. Organisational behaviour links in with this by attempting to study different types of employees, in many different situations to help managers in many ways, for example to find the best working conditions and methods to improve productivity within a certain area of the business or even the business as a whole. This will hopefully give managers and their subordinates a better understanding of one another. There are different methods of management styles in today’s businesses. Some try to adopt a direct control approach, to make sure no mistakes…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The third approach is the approach of organizational behavior in which a supervisor analyzes and studies, the employee’s behavior, an interaction of employee in a group and as the organization as a whole. This will assist to be aware of the whole thing from an attitude of employee’s to teamwork to how an organization can adapt and change.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whole Foods Case Study

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages

    One may ask the question, why do certain individuals enjoy going to work, and performing at 100% while others require constant supervision? McGregor’s theory indicates that management and employees fall under two categories; Theory X or Theory Y. Individuals within the X category dislike work, avoid responsibility, are micromanaged, and enticed to accomplish a task. Individuals within the Y category are contradictory to the behaviors of X. Groups in the Y are highly motived, accomplish their goals, thrive having the responsibility, require no supervision, and enjoy working. They do not view work as a task, but as a natural part of life; therefore, management displaying Y behaviors will assume employees are capable of performing their assigned duties to their best of their abilities while taking pride in their work. Theory Y does not imply participative managers or any other kind of…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Motivation and Employees

    • 2237 Words
    • 9 Pages

    http://guides.wsj.com/management/managing-your-people/how-to-motivate-employees Much like the other articles, this particular article “Motivating Employees” makes significant reference to McGregor’s theories, X and Y.…

    • 2237 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    unit 650

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1.1 McGregor's X and y theory he argues that manager's approach their staff with a set of basic assumptions.…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The management implications for Theory X workers are that, to achieve organisational objectives, rewards of varying kinds are likely to be the most popular motivator. Management ends up being authoritative and a repressive work culture develops. The challenge for management with Theory Y workers is to create a working environment (or culture) where workers can show and develop their creativity. The management is empowering and responsible and work culture is achievement oriented…

    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Theory X and Y

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Douglas McGregor, an American social psychologist, proposed his famous X-Y theory in his 1960 book 'The Human Side Of Enterprise '. Theory x and theory y are still referred to commonly in the field of management and motivation, and whilst more recent studies have questioned the rigidity of the model, Mcgregor 's X-Y Theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. McGregor 's XY Theory remains central to organizational development, and to improving organizational culture.…

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Theory X assumes that employees are immature towards their job roles and may require micro-management from their managers. This theory is a close subset of directive leadership which is also characterized by motivating the employees with incentives for the good work that has been done. Managers adopting the Theory X for Organizational Behavior almost invariably end up blaming some one without…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scientific Management

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Taylor’s Scientific Management theory illustrates that instead of using rule-of-thumb, managers should develop a science for each element of a man’s work. They scientifically select, train, teach and develop employees.( Frederick Winslow Taylor ,1911) Workers have to be fully cooperated “without asking questions or making suggestions”( Frederick Winslow Taylor ,1909,P87). However, in Mayo’s Human Relations Management workers and managers make decisions together and workers have certain degree of freedom of controlling their own job. Differences can also be seen in job design in two approaches, Taylor believes that work should be deskilled to the simplest parts that workers will do repetitive task, while Mayo’s principle is in the opposite way. He believes that it is important for workers to have various tasks in their work and also being able to see the finish products is motivational to workers. Furthermore, Taylorism claims that there is a scientific basis for incentive wage. (Fredrick W. Taylor, 1895) In contrast, Mayo states that work is a group activity. The communication between workers and management influences workers’ morale and productivity. The recognition, security and a sense of belonging also determine workers’ morale and productivity. ( Miller,D.,& Form,W.H,1964)…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Scientific management theory is one of the classical approach theories that concentrated on work and production rather than on workers. This theory appeared in USA as a reaction to the drastic technological changes and the need to attain maximum productivity through far efficient workers.…

    • 3871 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: The results revealed that the basic underlying assumption of culture at NUST are that of…

    • 3376 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    MODELS OF OB

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages

    3) The supportive model: the supportive model depends on leadership instead of power or money. Through leadership, management provides a climate to help employees grow and accomplish in the interests of the organization, the things of which they are capable. The custodial approach leads to employee dependence on the organization rather than their boss. Employees depend on organizations for their security and welfare. The custodial model emphasizes economic rewards, securities. The productivity is lower under this theory as compared to that under autocratic theory in spite of the fact that employees are happy.…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics