Theory X

Theory Y

Humans inherently dislike working and will try to avoid it if they can.

People view work as being as natural as play and rest. Humans expend the same amount of physical and mental effort in their work as in their private lives.

Assumptions

Because people dislike work they have to be coerced or controlled by management and threatened so they work hard enough.

Provided people are motivated, they will be self-directing to the aims of the organization. Control and punishment are not the only mechanisms to let people perform.

Average employees want to be directed.

Job satisfaction is key to engaging employees and ensuring their commitment.

People don't like responsibility.

People learn to accept responsibility and seek responsibility. Average humans, under the proper conditions, will not only accept, but even naturally seek responsibility.

Average humans are clear and unambiguous and want to feel secure at work.

People are imaginative and creative. Their ingenuity should be used to solve problems at work.

Shop Floor, Mass Manufacturing. Production workers.

Professional Services, Knowledge Workers. Managers and Professionals.

Application

Large scale efficient operations.

Management of Professionals, Participative Complex Problem Solving.

Conducive to

Authoritarian, Hard Management.

Participative, Soft Management.

Management Style