On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Work in organizations that are managed like this can . "Theory X and Theory Y, Douglas McGregor", "Employee Management: Are You X or Are You Y", "Theory X and Theory Y: Understanding People's Motivations", A diagram representing Theory X and Theory Y, Another diagram representing Theory X and Theory Y, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theory_X_and_Theory_Y&oldid=1136635549, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 10:10. An optimal managerial style would help cultivate worker creativity, insight, meaning and moral excellence. This is because; Theory X reduces the people to 'clogs in machine' and is more likely to de-motivate people in the long-run. A variation on this theme is the concept of situational leadership, which advocates using different styles of management in different circumstances. Some critics believe that current methods of measuring unemployment are inaccurate in terms of the impact of unemployment on people as these methods do not take into account the 1.5% of the available working population incarcerated in US prisons (who may or may not be working while they are incarcerated); those who have lost their jobs and have . If a company wants to realize thebenefits described above, itneed to have the following: Theory Z is not the last word on management, however, as it does have its limitations. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. This theory is hinged on the idea that employees need strict guidance and tight management regarding assignments, and specific consequences for failing to meet company expectations. You might, for instance, have a tendency to micromanage or, conversely, you may prefer to take a more hands-off approach. The hard approach results in hostility, purposely low output, and extreme union demands. As a result, they think that team members need to be prompted, rewarded or punished constantly to make sure that they complete their tasks. However, employees can be most productive when their work goals align with their higher-level needs. Leaders who rely solely on their legitimate power and authority seldom generate the influence necessary to help their organization and its members succeed. Work is inherently distasteful to most people, and they will attempt to avoid work whenever possible. Reward and legitimate power (that is, relying on ones position to influence others) produce inconsistent results. D.job satisfaction is primarily related to higher order needs. Except where otherwise noted, textbooks on this site Accept work as a normal part of their day, and it's right next to recreation and rest. Theory X starts from the assumption that people are naturally lazy, want to avoid work as much as possible, do not wish to take responsibility, have no . 1999-2023, Rice University. [6] Managers who believe employees operate in this manner are more likely to use rewards or punishments as motivation. In general, Theory X style managers believe their employees are less intelligent, lazier, and work solely for a sustainable income. Theory X can benefit a work place that utilizes an assembly line or manual labor. They can use self-direction and self-control in this aspect. A directive autocrat retains power, makes unilateral decisions, and closely supervises workers activities. 4. The employee must be supervised or looked upon so that he or she works appropriately. [4] The workplace lacks unvarying rules and practices, which could potentially be detrimental to the quality standards of the product and strict guidelines of a given company. Theory X managers are likely to believe that Select one: a. the average person dislikes work and will seek to avoid it when possible. When employees rise to a higher level of management, it is expected that they will use Theory Z to bring up, train, and develop other employees in a similar fashion. The role of the Theory X manager is to coerce and control employees to work towards organizational goals. Based on these factors, it is easy to see how Theory X differs from Theory Y and easy to imagine their potential outcomes in the workplace. The permissive autocrat mixes his or her use of power by retaining decision-making power but permitting organizational members to exercise discretion when executing those decisions. job satisfaction is primarily related to higher-order needs. This could lead to more turnover and absenteeism. Management use of Theory X and Theory Y can affect employee motivation and productivity in different ways, and managers may choose to implement strategies from both theories into their practices. Employees are given rewards and incentives, prompted, punished, coerced or forced into working. They need an interactive and safe environment with opportunities for growth, learning and creativity. According to McGregor, there are two opposing approaches to implementing Theory X: the hard approach and the soft approach. As a result, they think that team members need to be prompted, rewarded or punished constantly to make sure that they complete their tasks. The worker here is considered to be mature. He defines himself as his companys philosopher. The managers influenced by Theory X believe that everything must end in blaming someone. Different types of power elicit different forms of compliance: Leaders who rely on coercive power often alienate followers who resist their influence attempts. Our mission is to improve educational access and learning for everyone. In contrast, Theory Y leaders believe that people have creative capacities, as well as both the ability and desire to exercise self-direction and self-control. Athletic teams often have informal leaders, individuals who exert considerable influence on team members even though they hold no official, formal leadership position. But how do leaders effectively exercise this influence? The higher-level needs of esteem and self-actualization are ongoingneeds that, for most people, are never completely satisfied. Theory Y managers, on the other hand, are more optimistic. Theory X managers are likely to believe that employees are lazy, fear-motivated, and in need of constant direction. McGregor (1960) proposed two models "Theory X and Theory Y", which he devised to describe two contrasting beliefs that managers hold about their paid workers. Although both styles of management can motivate people, the success of each will largely depend on your team's needs and wants and your . They are not inherently irresponsible or lazy. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. B. most employees know more about their job than the boss. Henry comes to work regularly on time and his performance has been consistent. Also sharing power is the directive democrat, who encourages participative decision-making but retains the power to direct team members in the execution of their roles. The Theory X manager assumes employees hate the idea of having to go to work and do so only to earn a paycheck and the security it offers. However, one person who seemed to be unafraid of self-inflicted explosions was Douglas McGregor, a behavior management theorist who was heavily influenced by both Abraham Maslow and the Hawthorne Studies. Where a typical Theory X manager might require strict work hours, a Theory Y manager might offer employees a firm deadline, trusting them with the choice of when and how they will meet a productivity deadline. Back in the 1950s and 60s, MIT School of Management student Douglas McGregor published a theory on different types of workers. Business Case Study: Apple's Management Style, Henri Fayol's Principles of Management | Summary & Explanation, Marginal Tax Rate Concept & Formula | How to Calculate Marginal Tax Rate, Decision Making Skills & Techniques | How to Improve Decision Making. This unique platform allows team leaders to share visuals with teammates, work together on projects in real time, comment on documents and project updates, and work collaboratively with up-to-the-minute feedback. Theory Y, on the other hand, holds an optimistic opinion of employees. They also dislike change and tend to resist it at all costs. A manager who believes in Theory Y could have assumptions that: Too much freedom could lead to no accountability and people could lose direction and focus. Most managers generally use the mixture of the two theories. Theory X explains the importance of heightened supervision, external rewards, and penalties, while Theory Y highlights the motivating role of job satisfaction and encourages workers to approach tasks without direct supervision. They also dislike change and tend to resist it at all costs. Do you agree with Riya or Joseph? As a result, the only way that employees can attempt to meet higher-level needs at work is to seek more compensation, so, predictably, they focus on monetary rewards. OpenStax is part of Rice University, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn about motivation in the workplace . This approach is usually taken by managers working in older companies and firms. Theory X managers are likely to believe that: A.the average person dislikes work and will seek to avoid it when possible. Equity Theory of Motivation | Components, Importance & Examples, Business 307: Leadership & Organizational Behavior, Hospitality 309: Food & Beverage Service & Operations, Business 209: Mentoring & Leadership Development in the Workplace, Business 313: Organizational Communication, Psychology 107: Life Span Developmental Psychology, SAT Subject Test US History: Practice and Study Guide, SAT Subject Test World History: Practice and Study Guide, Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography, Intro to Excel: Essential Training & Tutorials, Create an account to start this course today. [11], For McGregor, Theory X and Theory Y are not opposite ends of the same continuum, but rather two different continua in themselves. The two theories proposed by McGregor describe contrasting models of workforce motivation applied by managers in human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational communication and organizational development. Theory X managers tend to take a pessimistic view of their people, and assume that they are naturally unmotivated and dislike work. Theory X is a management style and way of thinking that suggests people are purely motivated by earning income to support their personal goals. PEOPLE WILL SEEK INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY AND CHALLENGE AND WILL WORK HARD UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS True or false: A research called the "New Generation" of Chinese organizational leaders found that the new generation group scored the same on individualism as the current and older generation groups. They are inherently lazy, lack ambition and prefer to be directed on what to do rather than assume responsibility on their own. Human Relations Theory Overview & Timeline | What are Human Relations? Also, participative decision-making may not always be feasible or successful due to the nature of the work or the willingness of the workers. 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