Mcgregor's Xy Theory
Karl Nagra Karl Nagra Lecturers Name: Graham Orr Management & eBusiness Due Date: 27 April 2012
McGregor’s XY Theory
In 1960, American social psychiatrist, Douglas McGregor wrote a book titled ‘The Human Side Of Enterprise’. It was in this book that McGregor first proposed his famous XY theory. McGregor’s XY Theory is a type of motivational management. McGregor’s theory is incredibly simple yet effective. Most of the fundamental elements of the XY Theory rely solely on how the manager views their employees. Even though McGregor’s theory is over fifty years old, it is still relevant today. Authors have tried to modernise the theory but the basics remain the same. Laurie J. Mullins describes Theory X type workers as having an “Instrumental Orientation” and Theory Y type workers as being of “Bureaucratic Orientation” (Mullins 2007, P9). This is proof that McGregor’s Theory XY was not only true in management of the time but remains true today. Theory X works on the principle that all the workers need a high amount of supervision and control. This can because the workers are not motivated beyond Maslow’s bottom two stages of needs, biological/physiological and safety/security needs. The workers may be motivated but unskilled and therefore still need to be treated as Theory X workers. Theory X workers require a large amount of supervision, control methods and direction to ensure work is done well. If a business is to work as with a X type management, then a large management team is required. An example of an X type business is the management system within a JD
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Karl Nagra Wetherspoon public house. Due to JD Wetherspoon being part of the hospitality industry and primarily as public houses, it is assumed that a majority of the staff will be young and unskilled workers with little motivation. With this in mind, within one public house there will be a strict hierarchy of staff responsibility. Associates are the bottom of the ladder workers with no responsibility
McGregor’s XY Theory
In 1960, American social psychiatrist, Douglas McGregor wrote a book titled ‘The Human Side Of Enterprise’. It was in this book that McGregor first proposed his famous XY theory. McGregor’s XY Theory is a type of motivational management. McGregor’s theory is incredibly simple yet effective. Most of the fundamental elements of the XY Theory rely solely on how the manager views their employees. Even though McGregor’s theory is over fifty years old, it is still relevant today. Authors have tried to modernise the theory but the basics remain the same. Laurie J. Mullins describes Theory X type workers as having an “Instrumental Orientation” and Theory Y type workers as being of “Bureaucratic Orientation” (Mullins 2007, P9). This is proof that McGregor’s Theory XY was not only true in management of the time but remains true today. Theory X works on the principle that all the workers need a high amount of supervision and control. This can because the workers are not motivated beyond Maslow’s bottom two stages of needs, biological/physiological and safety/security needs. The workers may be motivated but unskilled and therefore still need to be treated as Theory X workers. Theory X workers require a large amount of supervision, control methods and direction to ensure work is done well. If a business is to work as with a X type management, then a large management team is required. An example of an X type business is the management system within a JD
1
Karl Nagra Wetherspoon public house. Due to JD Wetherspoon being part of the hospitality industry and primarily as public houses, it is assumed that a majority of the staff will be young and unskilled workers with little motivation. With this in mind, within one public house there will be a strict hierarchy of staff responsibility. Associates are the bottom of the ladder workers with no responsibility
References: Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. “Book Title or Reference Title.” City Name: Publisher, Date. Chapman, Allan. “Business Balls - Douglas McGregor Theory XY”. Accessed at - “http:// www.businessballs.com/mcgregor.htm” - at 14:00 05 April 2012 Chapman, Allan. “Business Balls - Frederick Herzberg Motivational Theory”. Accessed at - “http:// www.businessballs.com/herzberg.htm” - at 16:36 16april 2012 Chapman, Allan. “Business Balls - Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. Accessed at - “http:// www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm” - at 16:33 16 April 2012 Expert Program Management. “Theory X and Theory Y”. Accessed at - “http:// www.expertprogrammanagement.com/2011/03/theory-x-and-theory-y/” - at 21:08 12 April 2012 Herzberg, Frederick, et al. “The Motivation of Work.” New York: Wiley, 1959 McGregor, Douglas. “The Human Side Of Enterprise.” New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960. Mullins, Laurie J. “Management and Organisational Behaviour 8th Edition. (eBook)” Harlow: Pearson Education, 17 April 2007. Accessed at - “www.dawsonera.com”. 7