He treated traditional approach to management as theory x and the professional approach to management as theory y. Advantages and disadvantages of theory x and y essay. This theory divides workers and managers in the organization in two typical groups according to how managers lead their subordinates and respectively how subordinates. Theory x and theory y was an idea devised by douglas mcgregor in his book the human side. Thinker 026 introduction douglas mcgregor 19061964 followed a mostly academic career lecturing at harvard university, massachusetts institute of technology mit and antioch college, becoming the first sloan fellows professor at mit. Difference between douglas mcgregor theory and herzberg s. It was a period characterized by the work of maslow, likert, argyris. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y douglas mcgregor theory x mcgregor died in 1964, aged 58, but not before making a substantial contribution to the field of management. The eminent psychologist douglas mcgregor has given his theory of motivation called theory x and theory y.
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 were first introduced in the early work of douglas mcgregor. A historical view of douglas mcgregors theory y emerald. 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. Mcgregors theory x and theory y are theories about human behavior and motivation in the organization that was published in 1960 by douglas mcgregor. X and theory y was developed by social psychologist douglas mcgregor. Mcgregors work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of abraham maslow, who created the hierarchy of needs. Mcgregors theory x and theory y theory of 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. The outcomes of positive outlook at mankind in organizations let people participate in decisionmaking process, encouraging communication for improvement. Theory xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi. Theory x advanced the view that human beings have an innate dislike for work. 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. The relationship between mcgregors xy theory management.
He noted, though, that whether a manager could explicate hisher theory was unimportant, because a managers theory attitudes could be inferred from enacted work behaviors. 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. The idea that a managers attitude has an impact on employee motivation was originally proposed by douglas mcgregor, a management professor at the massachusetts institute of technology during the 1950s and 1960s. Douglas mcgregor who set forth in his book human side of enterprise two pairs of assumptions about human beings which he thought were implied by the actions of autocratic and permissive managers. Pdf application of mcgregors theory x and theory y. It was in 1957 that douglas mcgregor first proposed the concept of theory x and theory. Pdf on nov 1, 2017, mohammad saiful islam and others published application of mcgregors theory x and theory y. He first presented his theory in a classic article titled the human side of enterprise. 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. Mcgregor developed a philosophical view of humankind with his theory x and theory y in 1960. Theory x and y created by mcgregor has been a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. Douglas mcgregors work builds on the work of other behavioral scientists who showed a link between human behavior, motivation, and productivity. 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. Theory x and theory y team management training from.
Theory x and theory y management oxford bibliographies. Theory xy described briefly put, mcgregor 1960 advanced three ideas. 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 character of the manager or worker corresponding to the. 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, mcgregors xy theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management style and techniques. He referred to these opposing motivational methods as theory x and theory y management. His work is based upon maslows hierarchy of needs, where he grouped the hierarchy into lowerorder needs theory x and higherorder needs theory y. Theory x and theory y are theories of human work motivation and management. Pdf leadership style and organizational performance have been researched. Introduction douglas mcgregor is a behaviorist and social psychologist of repute. Toward a constructvalid measure article pdf available in journal of managerial issues 202. 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 xy douglas mcgregor and theory z william ouichi theory x an authoritarian style of management the average worker dislikes work. Douglas mcgregor is the one who constructed theory x and y in the 1960s.
It appeared at a time when the behavioral sciences were playing an increasing role in how managers thought about their work. 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. Mcgregors ideas suggest that there are two fundamental approaches to managing people. Perception of management toward the employees in the banking industry of.
Difference between douglas mcgregor theory and herzberg s theory. Although nearly 50 years have passed since mcgregors initial formulation of theory x and theory y, the. Pdf douglas mcgregors landmark book, the human side of. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y have both their advantages and disadvantages, though many would prefer to call them their strengths and weaknesses.
Jim was a fellow manager at hanover insurance, and we often reflected on the diseases produced by the prevailing hierarchical management practices of that time. Theory x and theory y, introduced in the book and are known for management and human motivation. He noted, though, that whether a manager could explicate hisher theory was unimportant, because a managers theory attitudes could. Copyright 2017, scholarly research journal for interdisciplinary. Challenges and limitations of theory x and 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. Conversely, mcgregor saw theory y managers as those that hold assumptions that.
Mcgregor promoted theory y as the basis of good management approach, and this break new ground for argument that employees of an organization are not merely cogs in the machinery of. Douglas mcgregor has developed a theory of motivation of the basis of hypotheses relating to human behaviour. Douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous theory x and y in his book the human side of enterprise in 1960. This article and video will explore mcgregors theory further, and well look at how it. While mcgregors theory y model has been widely adopted in management literature as the preferred model, theory. 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. 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. Douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous xy theory in his 1960 book the human side of enterprise. Mcgregor theory x and theory y for staff and employees. 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. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Theory x and y which deals with the motivational factors that. 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.
He is a strong believer in the potentialities of human beings in c. My boss asks me politely to do things, gives me reasons why, and invites my suggestions. Critically evaluate mcgregors theroy x and theory y free. Theory x says that the average human being is lazy and self. In addition to this, they can help a manager to focus on his. Many theorists support that mcgregors theory considers the field of management from a new angle, indicating a strong influential value. Theory x stands for the set of traditional beliefs held, while theory y stands for the set of beliefs based on researchers in behavioral science which are concerned with modern social views on the man. Mcgregors work made a significant impact on managerial thought. Theory y managers appeal to a higher level of motivation on maslows. Theory x stands for the set of traditional beliefs held, while theoryy stands for the set of beliefs based on researchers in behavioral science which are concerned with modern social views on the man. The purpose of this paper is to trace douglas mcgregors theory y thinking back from pre. Mc gregors theory x and theory y of motivation explained. Furthermore, theory x fails because it does not consider human motivation, the needs of humans.
Douglas mcgregor theory x theory y pdf programpals. They can only be made to get results at work by the application of. According to mcgregor, the function of motivating people involves certain assumptions about human nature. Douglas mcgregor 19061964 followed a mostly academic career lecturing at harvard. Maslows theory of motivation maslow in his classic paper a theory of human motivation published in 1943 outlined an.
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. Features of mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. Mcgregors work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of. Mcgregor postulated 2 theories on human management and leadership which are theory x and theory y. Douglas mcgregor expressed his views of human nature in two sets of assumptions. Douglas mcgregor work is established in motivation theory. Douglas mcgregor wrote about theory x and theory y in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is important to note that these sets of assumptions were not based on.
Douglas mcgregor put forward a theory of motivation. Mcgregor came from a social psychology background and brought his. 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, mcgregors xy theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management. John wiley, 2000 journal article douglas mcgregora lasting impression, robert a cunningham ivey business journal, sepoct vol 75 issue 5, 2011, pp57 related model mcgregors theory x and theory y related thinkers. However, modern revisions including contingency theorists argue that theory y is not essentially a progressive alternative to a dull theory x. He is best known for his development of the theory x and theory y, a leadership theory on two different leadership styles biography douglas mcgregor. First, all managers have a theory of human work motivation. There are two alternative sets of assumptions which mcgregor has. In the 1960s douglas mcgregor a social psychologist of mit developed two well known contrasting theories on human motivation and management theory x and theory y. The first set of assumptions is contained in theory x and the second set of assumptions in theory y. This article describes the theory x and theory y of douglas mcgregor.
After reading you will understand the background and the practical basics of these leadership styles what is theory x and theory y. Theory x and theory y published in the sage encyclopedia of management theories. Pdf theory x and theory y type leadership behavior and its. Douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 was a famous management professor in the field of personal development and motivational theory. He avoided descriptive labels and simply called the theories theory x and theory y. Mcgregor agreed with maslow that selfactualization is the highest level human need that ought to be achieved, this reflects his bias for promoting theory y management which emphasizes selfmotivation. With the adoption of theory y practices, managers can create an environment where workers can achieve their highest needs of esteem and self. Douglas mcgregors theory x vs theory y lucidchart blog. 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. Douglas mcgregor has developed two sets of assumptions about human behaviour. Therefore most people must be motivated by forcedbribed with the threat of punishment or a reward to produce effort and work towards organizational objectives.
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