Theory X and Y (Coursework Sample)

Topic: Theory X and Y
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In the move to understand the motivation of different individuals to their workplaces, there are the various factors to be considered in determining the level of the motivating factors. However, a wider group of people get satisfied of their work and usually have the pride for their working positions. Some may as well view their work as a burden and the only to help them survive. There have been the analytical studies on the management critics on the motivation in the workplaces in the move to come up with the appropriate approaches in management.
A psychologist, Douglas McGregor comes up with two theories that try to explain on the issue of management and human motivation. The X and Y theories explains on the ideas of the human motivation in the workplaces as well as the management related issues. On leaders’ perception on what motivates their employees and its influence to the management, the leaders can be able to adopt the quality leadership styles and have the strategies in ruling over their employees.
Employees’ perception on their work greatly has an influence on the quality of the work they are likely to undertake. Theory X assumes that employees naturally dislike their work and are unmotivated by it (Chui, Schumaker & Stöckler, 2002). This is seen to encourage the strictness in the management of the organization as the management has to intervene in the move to achieve the sustainability in the undertakings of the organization.
With theory Y, the workers are said to be motivated by their work and it promotes the participative leadership styles. The workers are said to be self-motivated as they are happy of their work. The table below shows some of the differences between the two theories.
Theory X

Theory Y

Workers
* Dislike working
* Need direction and avoids their responsibility
* Have to be forced, controlled and threatened for effective performance
* Needs supervision
* Needs enticement

Workers
* Takes up their responsibility
* Do not need much directions
* Enjoy working in their jobs
* Considers working as part of life
* Solves problems

X based organizations has leaders who are top heavy, this is in the move to enhance the controlling of the workers in the company. With this, there is little delegation in the organization in the authorities and the control remains centralized. The workers in the X type model according to McGregor are referred to as the minority. However, in large organizations, X-based leadership may be highly required and be as well avoided.
Theory Y talks of the de-centralized mode of participation in the management. It is therefore widely applicable as in an oriented Y-based management team, the low level employees are involved in the decision making processes (Konrad, 2000). With this model, there is the overall distribution of the powers from without the hierarchies of leadership. Through this, the employees feels motivates thus an improvement on t...