Friday, April 16, 2010

Doulgas McGregor's Theory X & Theory Y


Theory X


  • dislikes work and attempts to avoid it
  • has no ambition

  • wants no responsibility
  • would rather follow then lead

  • resist change

  • is self-centered and does not care about the organization's goals

  • assumes people only work for money and security

Theory Y

  • work can be as natural as play and rest

  • people will be self directed to meet their work objectives if they are committed to them

  • people will be committed to their objectives if rewards are in place that address higher needs such as self fulfillment

  • under these conditions people will seek responsibility

  • make work truly enjoyable




Everyone that works in an organization, with a group, or in a team has dealt with people of type of theory x and theory y people. Some people in corporations today just identify them positive or negative people when they are at the work place but it is much more than that. The outlook of society seems to be mostly Theory X people because most people claim that the only reason they work is to make money to support themselves or their family but what about that small percent of people that go to work because they love their jobs and enjoy being there everyday. These are the Theory Y people who are self directed and truly enjoy everyday of work. Although I can not pick out one person in our simulations class that is theory X and theory Y many of the students are theory X because it is a class and it is senior year. Although these are just excuses and everyone has tendencies of both theories. For example as cycle two began it was much more natural and relaxed, most of the students seem self directed because they know their grade depends on it, and make the class enjoyable this is because many of the students felt more comfortable in what they were doing so they adapted more to the theory Y characteristics. As I have gone through the motions of the class I feel as though I have been more of a theory Y person but at times I am very much a theory X person too. For example when I walked into this class I was a theory X person because I do not like change, I did not want to take responsibility because I was unsure of what that entailed, and assumed I just needed this class to graduate. As the semester went on become a theory Y person because I believed that even if I did get fifth place on my presentation I need to find the positive in this class or I was just going to make it miserable for myself. As the second cycle began I decided to take on more responsibility by being on the GCB as well as being self directed to motivate me the the other GCB members. Outside of this class my Dad, Bill Waite, is a good example of an overall Theory Y person. He run his own business, has to deal all of his employees on daily basis and even his customers. He loves his job and it is completely natural to him. He has been working at "Waite's Dry Cleaners" since he was 16 and will most likely continue to do it until he retires. He makes changes and just recently bought out another cleaners to soon make it Waite's Dry Cleaners as well. He also have to motivate his employees with rewards and make them as self directed as he can so he does not have to watch over them everyday to make sure that the clothes are going out of the store the way that he wants them to.

Overall, I feel as though everyone has a little bit of McGregor's Theory X & Theory Y within themselves and it is all about they way that you approach a situation as to what type of characteristics you will hold.

Cheney, G, Christensen, LT, Zorn, T, & Ganesh, S. (2004). Organizational communication in an age of globalization . Prospect Heights: Waveland Press Inc..
page 45

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