Theory x and theory y pertain to employee motivation and have been used in human resource management, organizational behavior analysis, and organizational development. If you believe that your team members dislike their work and have little motivation, then, according to mcgregor, youll likely use an. Enacted in its authentic form, transformational leadership enhances the motivation, morale. Social psychologist mcgregors theoryx and theoryyof mit expounded two contrasting theories on human motivation and management in the 1960s. Transformational leadership 1 transformational leadership transformational leadership is defined as a leadership approach that causes change in individuals and social systems. Mcgregors theory x and theory y theory of motivation. Transformational leadership is defined as a leadership approach that causes change in individuals and social systems. Therefore most people must be motivated by forcedbribed with the threat of punishment or a. The xy theory diagram and measurement tool below pdf and doc versions are adaptations of mcgregor s ideas for modern organizations, management and work. Application of theory x and y in classroom management by.
Reward systems must correspond to intrinsic factors if employees are to be motivated. Introduction theory x and y was developed by douglas mcgregor, a social psychologist in 1960. 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. Theories of employee motivation theory x and theory y was created and developed by douglas mcgregor at the mit sloan school of management in the 1960s. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y essay 847 words. 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. Mcgregors theory y matches much of maslows self actualization level of motivation.
Sep 09, 2016 douglas mcgregor wrote about theory x and theory y in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1895, it was here that his grandfather, thomas mcgregor started his business and given its name as, mcgregor institute. Pdf douglas mcgregors landmark book, the human side of enterprise, changed the path of management thinking and practice by. Theory x and y created by mcgregor has been a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. In its ideal form, it creates valuable and positive change in the followers with the end goal of developing followers into leaders. The themes and theory of leadership center for excellence in municipal management page 1 the themes and theory of leadership. Yet the effect of xy attitudes on job performance has never been empirically demonstrated. The relationship between mcgregors xy theory management. 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 still referred to commonly in the field of management and motivation, and whilst more recent studies have questioned the rigidity of the model. Small business owners in the sishane lighting and chandelier district. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Critically evaluate mcgregors theroy x and theory y. The outcomes of positive outlook at mankind in organizations let people participate in decisionmaking process.
The expectancy theory of motivation provides an explanation as to why people choose. These two separate needs are the need to avoid unpleasantness and discomfort and. The present research investigates whether xy attitudes and xy behaviorsexamined as two distinct constructsare. Douglas mcgregor theory x theory y pdf files newlinedb. This is the idea behind douglas mcgregor s theory x and theory y. Theory x managers believe that their employees come to work just to earn a living, and that they dont want to take on new responsibilities. An analysis of decision under risk by daniel kahneman and amos tversky econometrica, 472, pp. My boss asks me politely to do things, gives me reasons why, and invites my suggestions. In addition, managers who tend to utilize mcgregor s theory x generally receive poor results from their employees. It is based upon the deceptively simple idea that motivation can be dichotomised into hygiene factors and motivation factors and is often referred to as a two need system. Theory x the theory leads to mistrust, highly restrictive supervision, a punitive atmosphere, threat and coercion to gain employees compliance theory x managers feel the sole purpose of the employees interest in the job is money they will blame the person, without questioning whether it may be the system. Either theory x or theory y assumptions may be appropriate in a particular situation.
To start off with, heres a brief definition of mcgregors theory x and theory y. Mcgregors theory says that theory x leaders believe employees try to. Bobic and davis a kind word for theory x 241 1 mcgregor relied upon a number of theories, including social constructivism, to explain the managersubordinate relationship and its pathologies. After studying managers dealing with employees, mcgregor concluded that the managers views the nature of human beings are based on certain assumptions that mold the managers behavior toward the.
Mcgregor s work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of abraham maslow, who created the hierarchy of needs. In terms of the study of management, mcgregor s concepts are included in the overwhelming majority of basic management textbooks, and they are still routinely presented to students of. Mcgregor s theory x and theory y douglas mcgregor proposed two distinct views of human beings. 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. Managers generally have one of two perspectives regarding their employees. Pdf theory x and theory y published in the sage encyclopedia. Theory x and theory y, given by mcgregor, are explained below with the main assumptions of each theory. Mcgregor himself held to the belief that theory y assumptions were more valid than theory x. Edwards deming w edwards deming was an american statistician who is associated with the rise of japan as a manufacturing nation, and with the invention of total quality management tqm. Douglas mcgregor in his book, the human side of enterprise published in 1960 has examined theories on behavior of individuals at work, and he has.
Fairholm january 2001 introduction a professor of management once told a friend, that if he comes upon an article on leadership. Under motivation theory x, the firm relies on money and benefits to satisfy employees lower needs mentioned before, and once those needs are satisfied the source of motivation is lost. Theory x managers assume t hat workers are lazy, will avoid responsibility, and prefer to just get by. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi. Mcgregor developed a philosophical view of humankind with his theory x and theory y in 1960. Theory x management style generally get poor results compare with managers use theory y, which produces better performance and results, and allows people to grow and develop. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y essay 847 words 4 pages.
James macgregor burns and the philosophy of leadership matthew r. While mcgregors theory y model has been widely adopted in management literature as the preferred model, theory. Theory x belief that people are lazy, thus they must be micromanaged, watched, andor threatened to get to perform theory y views people as selfmotivated and want to achieve, thus they can direct own efforts with managements role to develop their potential mcgregor s x and y theory. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi theory x an authoritarian style of management the average worker dislikes work. Theory x managers believe that their employees dont like to work, that they are lazy, have no ambition, like to be told what to do and are only in it for the money. Social psychologist mcgregor s theory x and theory yof mit expounded two contrasting theories on human motivation and management in the 1960s. The outcomes of positive outlook at mankind in organizations let people participate in decisionmaking process, encouraging communication for improvement. Douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous theory x and y in his book the human side of enterprise in 1960. Many years ago a professor named mcgregor dubbed these perspectives theory x and theory y. 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. Fortythree years ago, douglas mcgregors the human side of enterprise offered managers a new assumption of management theory y, which would be more effective than what he considered thencurrent management assumptions theory x. 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.
Mcgregor s theory y matches much of maslows self actualization level of motivation. Mcgregors ideas suggest that there are two fundamental approaches to managing people. His 1960 book the human side of enterprise had a profound influence on education practices mcgregor was a student of abraham maslow. This refers to an authoritarian management style, where reward and punishment is seen as the best way to motivate employees to meet objectives. Health outcomes in keeping with the format of the other scales in the. Theory x says that the average human being is lazy and self. 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. Mcgregor felt that companies followed either one of these approaches. Edwards deming w edwards deming was an american statistician who is associated with the rise of japan as a manufacturing nation. May, 2016 many theorists support that mcgregors theory considers the field of management from a new angle, indicating a strong influential value. However, both internal and external evidence support the central importance of maslows hierarchy to mcgregor s new theory of management.
Deming went to japan just after the war to help set up. His work is based upon maslows hierarchy of needs, where he grouped the hiera. A crosscultural examination of manager perceptions of motivation and appraisal of performanceq sanford e. Theory x and theory y douglas mcgregor, working in the 1960s, believed that management style was determined by the managers assumptions about human nature. It is based on the assumption that selfdirection, selfcontrol, and maturity control motivation. I developed them to help understanding and application of mcgregor s xy theory concept. While in high school, mcgregor worked as night clerk at the mcgregor institute, a family affair originally established by his grandfather, but managed by his father and his uncle to provide temporary accommodation for around 100 transient workers at a time. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its. The business provides assistance to great lakes sailors and other transient labour. The evolution of leadership theory although the practice of leadership has changed considerably over time, the need for leaders and leadership has not bass, 1990a. Control, achievement and continuous improvement achieved by enabling, empowering and giving responsibility. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y biography of douglas mcgregor douglas mcgregor was born on 1906 in detroit, america. 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.
The democratic style, conversely, is based on theory y, in which leaders delegate parts of authorities to. It describes two very different attitudes towards workforce motivation. Mcgregors theory is also from are one of those theories that comprise much influence on both the management and the employee. Toward a constructvalid measure article pdf available in journal of managerial issues 202. Douglas mcgregor has developed two sets of assumptions about human behaviour. According to mcgregor 1960, the more pessimistic view of human naturetheory xwhich he claimed was the predominant perspective in the 1950s, was based on three assumptions. 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. Motivation is a process that starts with a physiological or psychological need that. The autocratic style is based on theory x, in which leaders announce decisions, sell decisions, and invite questions about other peoples expectations. 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.
Mcgregor 1960 famously argued that there are two types of m anagers. Douglas murray mcgregor 1906 1 october 1964 was a management professor at the mit sloan school of management and president of antioch college from 1948 to 1954. Iyengar columbia business school, 3022 broadway, uris hall, rm 714, new york, ny 100276902, usa abstract. Dogan unlucan mcgregor theories x and theory y student. Theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its impact on organizational performance. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Mcgregor came from a social psychology background and brought his training in this area to the field of management.
There is no evidence to confirm that either set of assumptions is valid. Explanation of fourteen points of management by edward deming. 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. Since the publication of burnss 1978 seminal work on transforming. Mcgregors theory x and theory y are theories about human behavior and motivation in the organization that was published in 1960 by douglas mcgregor. Theory x and theory y, introduced in the book and are known for management and human motivation. Mcgregor s work on theory x and theory y has had a significant impact on management thought and practice in the years since he first articulated the concepts. Mcgregors theoryx and theoryy what is human resource. Problems with theory x drawing on maslows needs hierarchy, mcgregor argues that a need, once satisfied, no longer motivates.
Theory x and theory y team management training from. Read this article to learn about mcgregors theory of x and theory y. This theory of motivation is known as a two factor content theory. 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. Douglas mcgregors theory x vs theory y lucidchart blog. The idea behind using letters x and y, perhaps seems to be using a neutral terminology, which does not convey any sense of badness. Kopelman professor of management baruch college david j. Mcgregor s xy 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. Already in 1990, bass 1990a found a proliferation of leadership books over 3, 300. Based on his research, he identified two broad sets of beliefs which he labelled theory x and theory y. Douglas mcgregor is the one who constructed theory x and y in the 1960s. 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. Mcgregors xy theory is a natural rule for managing people.
These managers assume that people dont enjoy work in fact, they would surely avoid doing it. In the 1960s, douglas murray mcgregor, a famous mit professor of management wrote a book named the human side of enterprise in which he analyzed the various behaviors of professionals at work. Davis colonel tooele army depot douglas mcgregor s landmark book, the human side of enterprise 1960, changed the path of management. We have appreciated earlier the importance of motivation in determining human behaviour. Prottas assistant professor of management adelphi university anne l. Theory x and theory y management applicationbusiness implications for workforce motivation. Managers theories of subordinates columbia business school. Mcgregors theory x and theory y introduction human beings have been studied systematically and objectively for many years to determine if they are resistant to work or selfgoverning. Topic 4 motivation and leadership higher business management 1.
Theory x and theory y are theories of human work motivation and management. 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. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. What might be less immediately understandable are the differing effects of theory. The impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators on. Theory x and y were created and developed by douglas mcgregor at the mit sloan school of management in the 1960s 2. He also taught at the indian institute of management calcutta. The antecedents and outcomes of mcgregors theory endorsement. Venugopalan maslows theory of motivation its relevance and application among nonmanagerial employees of selected public and private sector undertakings in kerala thesis.
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