McGregor’s X and Y Theory

McGregor’s X and Y Theory

Douglas McGregor has proposed his theories of motivation on two distinct assumptions about basic human nature: one is basically negative and labelled as theory X and the other is basically positive, labelled as theory Y.

X Theory

X theory is traditional in its outlook. It advocates manger knows best attitude. It completely excludes workers from the process of managerial decision-making. Under theory X, four assumptions are being postulated as follows:

1. Employees inherently dislike work and whenever possible will attempt to avoid it.

2. Since employees dislike work, they must be controlled and threatened with punishment to achieve desired goals.

3. Employees will avoid responsibilities and seek formal direction whenever possible.

4. Employees have least capacity for creativity in solving organisational problems.

Theory X holds a set of assumption of how to manage individuals and get motivate by lower order needs.

Y Theory

According to Y theory if workers are properly motivated they would willingly accept responsibility and display creativity and imagination in their work performance. Theory Y holds four contrasting assumptions to X theory.

They are:

·           Employees view work factor natural or play.

·           People will exercise self-direction and self-control if they are committed to the objectives.

·           An average person can learn to accept, even seek responsibility.

·           The ability to make innovative decisions is widely dispersed throughout the population and is not necessarily the sole. Province of those in management positions.

Theory Y holds a set of assumptions of how to manage individual to get motivated by higher order needs.