Theory X & Y

In our second lecture of Principles of Management, we studied about Theory X & Y. Theory X is authoritarian management style, whereas theory Y is participative management style. These theories are basically meant for Managers, not for Employees.


First we will discuss what is Theory X and Theory Y.


Theory X: Person with Theory X attitude will always avoid work that has been given to him/her. Such kind of person will avoid responsibility and will always look for security.


Theory Y: Person with Theory Y attitude is hardworking and dedicated towards the work that has been given to him/her. Such kind of person usually asks for responsibility. And if this person is committed to a work then will give his/her 100% towards that work.


As we know, there are two kind of people in organisations:


 1) Managers,
 2) Employees.


Together they can make any organisation successful. They can take any organisation to new heights of success. Also they can bring down any organisation from a well established state to nowhere. And this is dependent on their behavior, their attitude, their dedication towards their work. Now, there are two kind of employees in any organisation:


  1) Lazy,
  2) Hardworking.


There are four combination of such kind of managers and employees:
 a) Lazy Employees and Theory X Managers,
 b) Hardworking Employees and Theory X Managers,
 c) Lazy Employees and Theory Y Managers,
 d) Hardworking Employees and Theory Y Managers.


A) Lazy Employees and Theory X Managers:
      In such combination, employees are lazy and managers are also having negative attitude towards their work. Manager assumes that his/her employees are lazy. So as a result, if these people are not motivated or threatened to work then they will lead their organisation towards failure. The growth of their organisation will be limited to one extent and it will come down.

 B) Hardworking Employees and Theory X Managers:

      In this combination, employees are hardworking but manager is having negative attitude.  So manager assumes that employees are lazy. As a result hardworking and skillful employees will be demotivated. Manager will always underestimate them and employees will be unsatisfied. Such kind of combination is very dangerous for any organisation because unsatisfied employees will leave the organisation in search of an organisation where their skills can be utilized.

 C) Lazy Employees and Theory Y Managers:

       In this case, employees are lazy whereas manager is having positive attitude. So he/she will always think that his/her employees are hardworking. As a result he/she will always motivate employees to work hard and achieve better results. Such organisation will not perform well because of negative attitude of employees. But in the later stage, its performance will improve significantly and will achieve greater heights.

 D) Hardworking Employees and Theory Y Managers:

       Such kind of combination is ideal combination for any organisation in the world. Here employees are hardworking and manager is also having positive attitude. So manager will also think that employees are not lazy. So manager will always motivate his/her employees to work hard towards the desired goal. Also the bonding between managers and employees will be very strong. So as a result, organisation will have continuous growth and will reach new heights of success.


My Learning:
       From this lecture I have learned that organisations having first three combinations will always face difficulties in achieving their desired goals. Whereas organisation having combination 4 will easily achieve all the desired goals. Also, organisations having first three combinations should work towards achieving the combination 4, which will help them to grow rapidly and will also help in the growth of the employees and managers.