KNOW YOUR MANAGER

Today I will discuss about two theories that will help you understand your manager better. Also all the future managers will get an idea of different aspects of managing human resources.

Theory X and Theory Y

Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation created and developed by Douglas McGregor.

These theories discuss about the perception of the managers about their employees.

Theory X –

ü Assumptions-

This style of management assumes that workers:

• Dislike working.
• Avoid responsibility and need to be directed.
• Have to be controlled, forced, and threatened to deliver what's needed.
• Need to be supervised at every step, with controls put in place.
• Need to be enticed to produce results; otherwise they have no ambition or incentive to work.

ü Examples-

We can assume that these types of managers are not welcomed by workers. But in case of large production house/unskilled production line, X type of management is required.

              As in case of production house, doing the same work regularly workers become de-motivated. So strict supervision is required to achieve production goals.

Theory Y –

ü Assumptions-

This style of management assumes that workers:

• Take responsibility and are motivated to fulfil the goals they are given.
• Seek and accept responsibility and do not need much direction.
• Consider work as a natural part of life and solve work problems imaginatively.

ü Examples-

This more participative management style tends to be more widely applicable. In Y-Type organizations, people at lower levels of the organization are involved in decision making and have more responsibility.

              In case of research oriented works/professional services productivity depends upon the innovation of the workers. So this type of management can be implemented there.

Comparison between Theory X and Theory Y-

Point of discussion	Theory X	Theory Y
Motivation	Theory X assumes that people dislike work; they want to avoid it and do not want to take responsibility.	Theory Y assumes that people are self-motivated, and thrive on responsibility.
Management Style and Control	Centralized control	Participative
Work Organization	Theory X employees tend to have specialized and often repetitive work	In Theory Y, the work tends to be organized around wider areas of skill or knowledge
Rewards and Appraisals	Theory X organizations work on a ‘carrot and stick’ basis	Theory Y organizations also give employees frequent opportunities for promotion.

As a manager you will be manage different types of people, some motivated and some lazy. So a manager has to take a favourable position in between these two theories.

From experience in my former company I understood that a good manager firstly come to know about his workforce and their attitude towards work. That makes him decide which employees do need strict supervision and who don’t.

Now we will analyse what happens when these 2 types of managers’ meets up with 2 type of workers-motivated and lazy.

	Lazy Workers	Motivated Workers
Theory X manager	The manager fails in clear goal setting. A ‘Carrot and stick’ procedure has to be adapted by managers. But innovation lacks and productivity suffers.	Motivated workers get irritated by the strict supervision. Organisation suffers. Attrition rate goes up.
Theory Y manager	This type of situation is best to check the mettle of a manager. A good manager can understand & solve workers problems and motivate them to increase the productivity.	Win-Win Situation. Perfect combination for organisation’s prosperity.

After all “Achieving the highest possible return on human capital must be every manager's goal.”

 While taking about motivation let me share with you a small example that professor Mandi shared with us in the class.

“Khan Academy” which is a non- profit educational website which helps to reach free education everywhere in the world. The Khan Academy's ability to freely distribute lessons has demonstrated technology's ability to eliminate economic barriers that prevent effective education.

I know some of you have already heard about it. But the purpose will be served when you will share your knowledge with others via blogs, videos.

Stay Tuned.

Thanks for reading.

Arnab Mukherjee

NITIE

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