Theory X And Theory Y.

 

Douglas McGregor proposed two distinct views of human beings: one basically negative, labelled Theory X, and the other basically positive, labeled Theory Y.

 

Under Theory X, managers believe employees inherently dislike work and must therefore be directed or even coerced into performing it. Under Theory Y, in contrast, managers assume employees can view work as being natural as rest or play, and therefore average person can learn to accept, and even seek, responsibility.

 

Theory Y assumes higher-order needs dominate individuals. Therefore he proposed such ideas as participative decision making, responsible and challenging jobs, and good group relations as approaches to maximize an employee´s job motivation. Unfortunately there is no evidence to confirm that either set of assumptions is valid.