Theory X and Theory Y : Some thoughts

Theory X and Theory Y - Some thoughts

( Read your seniors blogs.. to understand more on these concepts.. Write your feedback to your seniors blogs - how good they are and how bad they are.. List of blogs are given here.. 

 http://pomcourse2012.blogspot.in/p/student-blogs.html

Theory X ('authoritarian management' style)

• The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can.
• Therefore most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards organisational objectives.
• The average person prefers to be directed; to avoid responsibility; is relatively unambitious, and wants security above all else.

Theory Y ('participative management' style)

• Effort in work is as natural as work and play.
• People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organisational objectives, without external control or the threat of punishment.
• Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement.
• People usually accept and often seek responsibility.
• The capacity to use a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in solving organisational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population.
• In industry the intellectual potential of the average person is only partly utilised. 

Some clarifications:  

1. Theory X and Theory Y are not so much about WORKERS . But it is about MANAGERS   and  MANAGEMENT STYLES that the managers in organisaitons  ASSUME / ADOPT in managing the workers and organisations.

2. Mc Gregor has not theorized  that there are two types of workers.. 1.Who are interested in work and those2. Disinterested in work.. it is wrong to say that McGregor has said this. McGregor definately said there are two types of managers who ASSUME  TWO different ways. This must be noted while understand Theory X and Theory Y concepts.

Issue is not whether there are two types of workers.

The real  issue McGregor has  focused in his theory  is .....

T W O CLASSES OF MANAGERS. Theory X and Theory Y.. It all about M A N A G E R S way of assuming about WORKERS  and .. Not at all about W O R K E R S ..

Here is an example of how to understand Theory X and Theory : 

- Worker may be of two types :  1. Lazy  2.  Not lazy

-  Further, mangers  may assume the given same two types of workers in two ways - 1. Workers are Lazy  2. Workers are Not  Lazy . Finaly FOUR situations emerge out of 2 X 2 table..

Cross interaction of above two dimensions may lead to FOUR situations  as given below.

1. When Worker  really Dislikes the work..  and  the Manager assume that the worker is Lazy . .  .  

   then that  MANAGER may be called THEORY X  MANAGER..

2. When Worker  really Dislikes the work..  and  the Manager assumes that the worker is ... NOT Lazy..

   then that MANAGER may be called THEORY Y MANAGER..

3. When Worker  really Likes the work..  and   the Manager assumes that the worker is ... Lazy..

   then the MANAGER may be called  THEORY X MANAGER..

4. When Worker  really Likes the work..  and  the Manager assumes that the worker is ... NOT Lazy..

   then the MANAGER may be called  THEORY Y MANAGER..

   Please note the following:

   - What need to be noted is..  Theory X and Theory Y is not about the workers.. 

   - It is about the M A N A G E R    and their ways of thinking . . . What the manager think about the workers and how he manages those workers is the issue  ! ..  

   It does not matter what the nature of workers is. 

   Above FOUR Situations (1 to 4 ) differ their implications in managing  organisaions and employees. 

   • Which one of the above FOUR styles is GOOD one  ?

     Which one of the above FOUR styles are dangerous ones ? and Why? Give your answer with examples. 

   • Give an example for each of the 1 to 4 situations you come across in your life ?

   Theory X and Y try to share more about how each of the

   - Doctors treat their patients ? 

   - Teachers treat their students ? 

   - Parents treat their children ?

   - Businesses treat their customers ?

   - Musicians / Players treat  their audiences ? 

   How Pygmalion phenomena  is related  to Theory X and Y  ? 

    

    

   Thank GOD... Most of our Parents and Teachers are  Scenario 2 and 4 Types.... Theory Y people.     - ------- -- Think on this and write your experience on WHY and HOW ?