Theory X and theory Y

Brandusa Maria 
Cheptea Nicoleta

Theory X and Theory Y.


"English for business studies",Ian MacKenzie
 (unit 4, page25)


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.


Translation of the text "Theory x and theory y",romanian variant


În lucrarea sa "Latura umană a înterprinderii",autorul Douglas McGregor a evidenţiat două teorii opuse cu referire la munca şi motivaţie.Ceea,ce el denumeşte Teoria X este abordarea tradiţională a lucrătorilor şi a funcţionării ,care presupune că oamenii sunt leneşi,nu le place munca şi ei trebuie să fie atît ameninţaţi(de exemplu,pierzîndu-şi locul de muncă),cît şi remuneraţi.Aceasta presupune că majoritatea oamenilor sunt incapabili de a-şi asuma responsabilitatea şi ei trebuie sa fie supravegheaţi.Teoria y,dimpotrivă,presupune că oamenii au o necesitate psihologică de a munci şi sa-şi asume realizări şi responsabităţi.
Teoreticienii ulteriori au susţinut că Teoria Y are o cerinţă mult mai mare,decît a realizat McGregor,atît pentru lucrători,cît şi pentru manageri.De exemplu,Abraham Maslow,a petrecut un an studiind o companie din California,care utiliza Teoria Y,şi a concluzionat că cerinţele acesteia faţă de responsabilitaţi şi realizări,sînt în exces pentru mulţi oameni.El a accentuat că întotdeauna au existat persoane slabe şi vulnerabile,cu un nivel insuficient de autodisciplină,care au nevoie de protecţie împotriva povării responabilităţii.Chiar şi oamenii rezistenţi şi sănătoşi au nevoie de securitate ordinii şi direcţiei.Managerii ,pur şi simplu, nu pot să substituie Teoria Y cu teoria X. Aceştia trebuie să înlocuiască securitatea promovată de teoria X cu o structură diferită a securităţii şi certitudinii.


Translation of the text "Theory x and theory y",russian variant


В своей работе “Человеческая сторона предприятия” Дуглас МакГрегор выделил две противоположных теории труда и мотивации. То, что он называет теорией Х - традиционный подход к работникам и работе, который предполагает, что люди ленивы и не любят работать, и что их надо одновременно запугивать (например, потерей работы) и вознаграждать. Эта теория утверждает, что большинство людей неспособны брать на себя ответственность и должны быть под присмотром. Теория Y, наоборот, предполагает, что у людей есть психологическая потребность работать, желание добиваться своих целей и брать на себя ответственность.
В последствии, теоретики утверждали, что теория Y предъявляет к рабочим и менеджерам куда большие требования, чем представлял себе МакГрегор. Эбрэхэм Маслоу, например, провёл год в калифорнийской компании, работающей по теории Y, и пришел к выводу, что её требования к ответственности и достижениям чрезмерны для многих людей. Он заметил, что всегда есть слабые и уязвимые, недисциплинированные люди, которым необходима защита от бремени ответственности. Даже сильные и здоровые люди нуждаются в указаниях. Менеджеры не могут просто так заменить теорию X на теорию Y. Они должны заменить гарантии, предоставляемые теорией X другой схемой гарантий и уверенности.




1d Summarizing (page 25)


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...

I. Watch the video and answer the questions:
1) Who was the author of Theory X and Theory Y?
a) A. Maslow
b) D. McGregor
c) A. Smith
d) M. Friedmen


2) What factors were important both for workers and economics, according to theory of McGregor?
a) social needs
b) money
c) qualification
d) responsibility


3) What motivation factor can be considered as a social one ?
a) second
b) dominant
c) additional
d) first


4) When did McGregor write his book about Theory X and theory Y?
a) 1985
b) 1623
c) 1960
d) XVI century.


5) What is the title of this book?
a) "The human side of entreprise"
b) "People's relations"
c) "Theory of management"
d) "Ideas and innovations"


6) What types were managers divided into?
a) Financial and executive managers
b) Promotion and marketing managers
c) Theory X and theory Y managers
d) Top and medium-level managers


7) How are employees considered,according to Theory X?
a) pessimistic
b) optimistic
c) indifference
d) important


8)Which theory is similar to Theory X?
a) Confucianism
b) Taylorism
c) Keynesism
d) Legilism


9) According to the theory Y, how do employees view their job?
a) as a burden imposed on them
b) as a pleasure
c) as a responsibility
d) as a promotional tool


10) According to the theory Y, employess can be...
a) source of valuable insights and innovations
b) additional labour force
c) slaves
d) potential customers


II. In what context these words were used:


1)1960
2)Theory X
3)social needs
4)desire to work
5)Theory Y managers
6)work as a burden
7)sources of innovations
8)Taylorism
9)The human side of entreprise
10)Avoid responsibility


III. Fill in the following statements:
a) D.McGregor asserted _________ were just as important both to workers and economics.
b) D.McGregor divided managers on _________ managers and Theory Y managers.
c) Name of McGregor's book is "The _______ side of entreprise".
d) Theory X is _____ to Taylorism/scientific management.
e) The theory Y says that _______ don't view work as a burden imposed on them.
f) In theory ____ employees can be the source of innovations.
g) ______ factor can be dominant motivational factor.
h) McGregor wrote "The human side of entreprise" in ___ .
i) Theory X assemed that employees ______ work and avoid responsibility.
j) Theory Y assumed that employees take a voluntary, _____ interest in their work.


IV. True/False questions.
1) Adam Smith was the author of Theory X and Y.
2) According to the theory X and theory Y ,there are no differences between employees.
3) Theory X assumes that employees like work.
4) Theory X is similar to Taylorism.

5) Theory Y takes an optimistic view of employees.

6) In both theories people avoid responsibility.

7) Managers can use only theory X on practise.

8) The book "The human side of entreprice" was written in 1960.

9) According to the theory Y employees don't view work as a burden imposed on them.

10) Social factor can be the dominant motivational factor.