Essay Management Practise Comparison between Theory X and Y with Z
Classical theorists were principally concerned with the structure and mechanics of business. Theorists of the human relations however are/were more concerned with the human factor. As Elton Mayo's work didn't show how work practices and structures should be modified in order to improve worker satisfaction and productivity so Douglas Mc Gregor 1960 developed 2 schools of thought as to why and how people work. = Theory X and Theory Y. Theory X workers are most likely to have a strong dislike towards work and will avoid it when and where possible. They have to be coerced, controlled, directed and even threatened to work towards the company's objectives. They don't have a desire for responsibility or promotion, only job security. They aren't very ambitious. From this he researched and investigated more and came up with theory Y. Theory Y workers enjoy their work. They work well especially towards the organisation's objectives. They will accept and seek responsibility. They are imaginative, creative and keen to put ideas towards the business. Managers who support X theory will try to control employees and those who support theory Y will try to help employees learn to manage themselves. We can compare this to Theory Z management developed by Ouchi. It reflects the correlation between differences in culture and how organisations are ran in different cultures. Ouchi identified 3 types of workers. Type A American Type Z Modified American Type J Japanese Type A American workers have short term employment, individual decision making and responsibility, rapid evaluation and promotion, formalised control ad a specialised career path. Type Z Modified American workers have long term employment, consensual decision making, individual responsibility, slow evaluation and promotion, moderately specialised career path, holistic concern.
Type J Japanese workers lifetime employment, consensual decision making, collective responsibility, slow evaluation and promotion, non specialised career path, holistic concern. In my opinion managers are neither theory X, Y or even Z as each is an extreme of the other. Real managers practice in between theories incorporating each into their management style.