In The Human Side of Enterprise, Douglas McGregor outlined two opposing theories of work and motivation. What he calls Theory X is the traditional approach to workers and working which assumes that people are lazy and dislike work, and that they have to be both threatened (for example, with losing their job) and rewarded. It assumes that most people are incapable of taking responsibility for themselves and have to be looked after. Theory Y, on the contrary, assumes that people have a psychological need to work and want achievement and responsibility. Later theorists argued that Theory Y makes much greater demands on both workers and managers than McGregor realized. Abraham Maslow, for example, spent a year studying a Californian company that used Theory Y, and concluded that its demands for responsibility and achievement are excessive for many people. He pointed out that there are always weak and vulnerable people, with little self-discipline, who need protection against the burden of responsibility. Even strong and healthy people need the security of order and direction. Managers cannot simply substitute Theory Y for Theory X. They have to replace the security provided by Theory X with a different structure of security and certainty.
Summarizing Read the text again and complete the following sentences, using your own words as much as possible. 1 According to Theory X, employers have to threaten workers because... 2 According to Theory Y, employers should give their workers responsibilities because... 3 Maslow criticized Theory Y because... 4 Maslow argued that even though they might want to be given responsibilities at work...
Discussion One of the most important functions of a manager is to motivate the employees under his or her authority. But how? What kind of things motivate you? Which of the following factors have been or will be important for you in your choice of a job? Classify them in order of importance. ■ good administration and good ■ job security labour relations ■ a challenging, interesting and ■ good working conditions: enough creative job space, light, heat and time, not too ■ responsibility much noise, and so on ■ contact with people ■ an adequate wage or salary, and ■ opportunities to travel benefits such as paid holidays, sick ■ holidays pay, a pension, and so on Are there any other important factors that are not listed here?
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