In 1960, douglas mcgregor formulated theory x and theory y suggesting two aspects of human behaviour at work, or in other words, two different views of individuals employees. Mcgregor s theory x and theory y douglas mcgregor s in his book the human side of enterprise published in 1960, explained two different kinds of theories or assumptions about human behavior. Mcgregors theory x and theory y theory of motivation. Douglas mcgregor has developed two sets of assumptions about human behaviour.
Theory x and theory y, given by mcgregor, are explained below with the main assumptions of each theory. According to mcgregor, theory x seeks to promote engagement by directing, monitoring. Douglas mcgregor, one of maslow s students, influenced the study of motivation with his formulation of two contrasting sets of assumptions about human nature theory x and theory y the theory x management style is based on a pessimistic view of. Theory y the higherlevel needs of esteem and selfactualization are continuing needs in that they are never completely satisfied. Mcgregors six assumptions of theory y and his ideas of integrating individual and organization goals are congruent with the main planks in my philosophy of. The latter theory has a much more positive view about employees and it is suggested that the employer is under a lot less pressure than one who is influenced by the management style of theory x. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 was a lecturer at harvard university and became the first sloan fellows professor at mit his theory x and theory y was detailed in the human side of enterprise, published in 1960. These theories continue to be important even today. Mcgregor considers theory x and theory y as two different continua in themselves, they are not different ends of the same continuum. Mcgregor postulated 2 theories on human management and leadership which are theory x and theory y. Theory x and theory y management applicationbusiness implications for workforce motivation.
Difference between theory x and theory y with comparison. Theory x or theory y,douglas mcgregor proposed two models of trust that formed the basis of two different managerial approaches, one based on a positive. Both theories x and y are proposed by mcgregor which describe the workforce models which are contrasting in nature and which are used by reporting managers in organizational behaviour and human. The outcomes of positive outlook at mankind in organizations let people participate in decisionmaking process.
Using mcgregors theory y as a framework for improving student motivation. How are mcgregors theories x and y and ouchis theory z used to explain worker motivation. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi. We should emphasize that we have labeled these assumptions as a step beyond theory y because of mcgregors own recognition that the theory y assumptions would probably be supplanted by new. This theory was developed by douglas mcgregor in 1950s at mit. Mcgregor developed a philosophical view of humankind with his theory x and theory y in 1960. In his theory about management attitudes at two opposite poles mcgregor s theory x and theory y, he never intended to indicate that x was bad and y good, nor that any leader should find a spot between the two and set up camp. X y theory questionnaire score the statements 5 always, 4 mostly, 3 often, 2 occasionally, 1 rarely, 0 never to indicate whether the situation and management style is x or y. Mcgregors ideas suggest that there are two fundamental approaches to managing people. There is no question that theory x and theory y had an incredible impact on management thinking. This article describes the theory x and theory y of douglas mcgregor. Theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its impact on. Theory x and theory y were part of mcgregors philosophy of management, which represented a fundamental change in management thought and practice.
This theory divides workers and managers in the organization in two typical groups according to how managers lead their subordinates and respectively how subordinates. The purpose of this paper is to trace douglas mcgregor s theory y thinking back from pre. Theory x percieves employees to be lazy, irresponsible and untrustworthy, while according to theory y employees are approached as one of the most valuable assets of the company. Contentsadvantages of theory x and ydisadvantages of theory x and ydifference between theory x and theory y douglas mcgregor s theory x and theory y have both their advantages and disadvantages, though many would prefer to call them their strengths and weaknesses. Theory x and theory y of motivation theory x and theory y of motivation by mcgregors. Theory x and theory y of motivation explain with examples. Mcgregors work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of. Theory x advanced the view that human beings have an innate dislike for work.
Theory y theory y expounds a participative style of management that is decentralized. Theory x and y created by mcgregor has been a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. Motivating people using theory x and theory y youtube. Nov 25, 2019 it is important to understand the two terms, internal motivation and external motivation is made up of the forces which exist within an individual, i. In this study, we will explore the relationship between theory x, theory y, and organizational performance. There are two alternative sets of assumptions which mcgregor has. He avoided descriptive labels and simply called the theories theory x and theory y. In 1960, douglas mcgregor developed a leadership theory mcgregor theory x and theory y about organization and management in which he represented two opposing perceptions about people. Theory x gives importance to supervision, while theory y stresses on rewards and recognition. Mcgregors six assumptions of theory y and his ideas of integrating individual and organization goals are congruent with the main planks in.
Read this article to learn about mcgregors theory of x and theory y. Theory x and theory y are considered as theories of human motivation at the workplace. Theory x says that the average human being is lazy and self. The three prior studies that have made this distinction were recently conducted solely to develop constructvalid measures of both. This article and video will explore mcgregors theory further, and well look at how it applies in the workplace. Theory x and theory y are part of motivational theories. Theory x and theoryy management applicationbusiness implications for workforce motivation. A historical view of douglas mcgregors theory y emerald. Theory x and theory y were part of mcgregor s philosophy of management, which represented a fundamental change in management thought and practice. Mcgregors theories x and y introduction to business. Mar 01, 2005 the purpose of this paper is to trace douglas mcgregors theory y thinking back from pre. If you believe that your team members dislike their work and have little motivation, then, according to mcgregor, youll likely use an authoritarian style of.
Social psychologist mcgregor s theory x and theory yof mit expounded two contrasting theories on human motivation and management in the 1960s. I knew instinctively that mcgregors assessment of the traditional view management, which he names theory x, was true because i had worked in x environments for years, trying to run y divisions. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi theory x an authoritarian style of management the average worker dislikes work. It is to mcgregor s thorough research and curiosity in behavior and incentive that we owe our current understanding of theory x and theory y. Mcgregor s theory x and theory y are theories about human behavior and motivation in the organization that was published in 1960 by douglas mcgregor. Mcgregor s work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of abraham maslow, who created the hierarchy of needs.
Application of theory x and y in classroom management by. Do you care about the goals of the organization that you work for, or do you focus more on getting a regular paycheck to bring home. Mcgregor also identified a set of managerial and organizational initiatives which he felt were consistent with his. The idea behind using letters x and y, perhaps seems to be using a neutral terminology, which does not convey any sense of badness or goodness associated with these theories.
Theory x and theory y are theories of human work motivation and management. Introduced by douglas mcgregor, theory x and theory y talk about the diverging views that exist about how organizations function. However, modern revisions including contingency theorists argue that theory y is not essentially a progressive alternative to a dull theory x. He referred to these opposing motivational methods as theory x and theory y management. X and consider using the techniques suggested by theory y. Mcgregor s six assumptions of theory y and his ideas of integrating individual and organization goals are congruent with the main planks in my philosophy of life now and at that time. Mcgregor recognized that some people may not have reached the level of maturity assumed by theory y and may initially need tighter controls that can be relaxed as the employee develops. The idea behind using letters x and y, perhaps seems to be using a. Conversely, mcgregor saw theory y managers as those that hold assumptions that.
Theory x holds a negative traditional view of the workers while theory y holds a much refined and. Mcgregor theory x and theory y for staff and employees. Mcgregor argued that these assumptions fall into two broad categories theory x and theory y. What might be less immediately understandable are the differing effects of theory x and y. From this reasoning, mcgregor proposed an alternative. Mcgregor s x y theory is a salutary and simple reminder of the natural rules for managing people, which under the pressure of daytoday business are all too easily forgotten.
Douglas mcgregor is the one who constructed theory x and y in the 1960s. Mcgregor felt that this traditional view is helpful neither to achieve the goals nor to motivate the employees to accomplish the goals. Theory x and y were created and developed by douglas mcgregor at the mit sloan school of management in the 1960s 2. Pdf leadership style and organizational performance have been. May, 2016 many theorists support that mcgregors theory considers the field of management from a new angle, indicating a strong influential value. According to mcgregor, theory x seeks to promote engagement by directing, monitoring, and rewarding andor punishing the actions of employees, while theory y seeks to promote engagement by. Mcgregor considered theory x and theoryy as two perspectives of administration action. In his 1960 management book, the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor made his mark on the history of organizational management and motivational psychology when he proposed the two theories by which managers perceive employee motivation.
Theory x and theory y published in the sage encyclopedia of management theories. Douglas mcgregor then arrived at the conclusion that the style of leadership depends on the. File type pdf theory x theory y businessballs theory x theory y businessballs getting the books theory x theory y businessballs now is not type of challenging means. Many theorists support that mcgregor s theory considers the field of management from a new angle, indicating a strong influential value. His work showed that thoughts and beliefs might influence behavio. Pdf application of mcgregors theory x and theory y. Theory x and theory y in 1960, douglas mcgregor formulated theory x and theory y suggesting two aspects of human behaviour at work, or in other words, two different views of individuals employees. Theory x and theory y team management training from. Xy theory questionnaire score the statements 5 always, 4 mostly, 3 often, 2 occasionally, 1 rarely, 0 never to indicate whether the situation and management style is x or y. The present study explored the possibility that mcgregor s 1960 theory x y assumptions serve as cognitive determinants of superior communicator style, a multidimensional set of style variables. Theory x and theory y of management represent two fundamental approaches to employee engagement carson, 2005. Mcgregor s ideas about theory x and theory y were first articulated in his article, the human side of enterprise, mcgregor, 1957 and were expanded upon in his book with the same title mcgregor, 1960. His work is based upon maslows hierarchy of needs, where he grouped the hiera.
Challenges and limitations of theory x and theory y. The relationship between mcgregors xy theory management. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and. Features of mcgregor s theory x and theory y of motivation. They can only be made to get results at work by the application of. Theory y focuses on a participative leadership style that is decentralized. Douglas mcgregor s theory x and theory y as far as mcgregor was concerned, this was a starting place, not a definitive set of universal rules to be adopted without question. Features of mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Therefore most people must be motivated by forcedbribed with the threat of punishment or a reward to produce effort and work towards organizational objectives.
The major distinct disadvantage of theory x and theory y is that they are put forward as challenging sets of assumptions a supervisor is either motivated by theory x or by theory y. They were created by douglas mcgregor while he was working at the mit sloan school of management in the 1950s, and developed further in the 1960s. I believe each human life is special and has a unique purpose, that all work has dignity. It is something that makes people act or behave in a particular manner. Theory x and theory y were first explained by mcgregor in his book, the human side of enterprise, and they refer to two styles of management authoritarian theory x and participative theory y. Theory x and theory y assumptions, merits and demerits. First, there has been a failure to distinguish between theory x y attitudes and theory x y behaviors. Theory x and theory y management oxford bibliographies.
Motivation, theory x and y, classroom, management manager and organisation introduction douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous theory x and y in his book the human side of enterprise in 1960. The xy theory diagram and measurement tool below pdf and. Douglas mcgregors theory x vs theory y lucidchart blog. Mcgregors theory x and theory y are theories about human behavior and motivation in the organization that was published in 1960 by douglas mcgregor. His work is based upon maslows hierarchy of needs, where he grouped the hierarchy into lowerorder needs theory x and higherorder needs theory y. Either theory x or theory y assumptions may be appropriate in a particular situation. Advantages and disadvantages of theory x and y essay.
This area of study is suggested for future research. According to mcgregor, the function of motivating people involves certain assumptions about human nature. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its. May 05, 2018 mcgregors theory x and theory y douglas mcgregors in his book the human side of enterprise published in 1960, explained two different kinds of theories or assumptions about human behavior. Mcgregor recognized that xtype workers are in fact usually the minority, and yet in mass organizations, such as large scale production environment, x theory management may be required and can be unavoidable. This theory divides workers and managers in the organization in two typical groups according to how managers lead their subordinates and respectively how subordinates behave. There is no evidence to confirm that either set of assumptions is valid.
My boss asks me politely to do things, gives me reasons why, and invites my suggestions. However, commentators and practitioners have often misinterpreted his ideas to assume exactly that. How are mcgregor s theories x and y and ouchis theory z used to explain worker motivation. Theory into practice abraham maslow viewed mcgregor as a mentor.
Mcgregor theory x and y this video explains the concept of theory x and theory y. He referred to these two perceptions as theory x and theory y. Conversely, mcgregor saw theory y managers as those that hold assumptions that workers care about the organization, will seek responsibility, and exercise. Mcgregor promoted theory y as the basis of good management practice, pioneering the argument that workers are not merely cogs in the company machinery, as theory xtype organizations seemed to believe. In contrast to the principles of conventional management mentioned as theory x, the advocated theory y illuminated a cluster of new or redefined concepts such as selffulfilling prophecy and responsibility.
Based on the premises concerning human behaviour, prof. If theory y holds true, an organization can apply the following principles of scientific management to improve employee motivation. Theory x and theory y in his 1960 book, the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor proposed two theories by which to view employee motivation. Douglas mcgregor, one of maslow s students, influenced the study of motivation with his formulation of two contrasting sets of assumptions about human nature theory x and theory y. He was a strong supporter of theories x and y, and he put theory y that people want to work, achieve and take responsibility into practice in a californian electronics factory. First, there has been a failure to distinguish between theory xy attitudes and theory xy behaviors. Theory x and theory y framework proposed by mcgregor in his classic book the human side of enterprise 1960 consists of two alternative set of assumptions. Abstract what motivates you to do a great job when you go to work. Furthermore, there is a certain amount of confusion around the underlying principles of the theories.
If theory y holds true, an organization can apply the following principles of. Both the theories, which are very different from each other, are used by managers to motivate their employees. Mcgregor s xy theory remains central to organizational development, and to improving organizational culture. Mcgregor holds the opinion that theory x assumptions about organisation, management, and man are obstacles to performance, and productivity. Advantages of theory x and y the biggest advantage of using theory x. Douglas mcgregor put forward a theory of motivation, called as theory x and theory y.
Oct, 2017 to learn more about theory x and theory y, see the article at. Mcgregors theory is also from are one of those theories that comprise much influence on both the management and the employee. Mcgregor himself held to the belief that theory y assumptions were more valid than theory x. As such, it is these higherlevel needs through which. Mcgregor recognized that in many organizations xtype workers are usually found in the minority, but even then in mass organizations, like large scale production environment, theory x management or leadership style may be required and can be unavoidable. Douglas mcgregor work is established in motivation theory. He has given two pairs of assumptions about human beings which were implied by the actions of managers in the organization.
After reading you will understand the background and the practical basics of these leadership styles what is theory x and theory y. The two theories are sets of propositions and beliefs about human nature. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y as far as mcgregor was concerned, this was a starting place, not a definitive set of universal rules to be adopted without question. Critically evaluate mcgregors theroy x and theory y.
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