LE03

Introduction

This lecture focused on the types of managers and their behaviors. The managers were classified on the basis of their behaviors a “Theory X and Theory Y Managers”.

My Learning

Theory X : The managers who think that the people working under them are lazy and avoids work provided they get a chance. The only way to make people work is by the use of power and by threatening them. This theory not only proves to be counterproductive in terms of the work done, but also it creates a bad mood inside the firm and the employees start blaming each other without anyone standing and taking charge of the situation.

Theory Y : This theory assumes that the employees are self motivated and are ambitious. A Theory Y manager believes that most people want to do well and excel at the work they are expected to do, given the right conditions. This doesn't mean that such a type of styls wouldn't bring difficulties, but the Y manager tries to find the problem, analyses it and motivates the employees to work accordingly, instead of laying the blame on the employees.

This creates four type of situations:

Situation 1

The employees are of type X and the manager is also of type X. This means that employees are lazy and Manager thinks that his/her employees are lazy. In such a situation, there is little scope for growth for anyone and manger may be held responsible for the failure as he does not motivate his employees to work upto their potential, instead blames his employees for the failure.

Situation 2

In this situation, the employees are oftype Y and their manager is also of type Y. The employees are not lazy but the Manager thinks that employees are lazy. The manager is solely responsible for the failure as the work of the hardworking and self-motivated employees would be wasted because of the poor judgement of the Manager. Consequently, the hard-working employees would loose interest eventally.

Situation 3

In this situation employees are of type X and the manager is of type Y. The employees are lazy but the Manager thinks that employees are not lazy. The Manager has faith on his/her team and constantly motivates them to work upto their potential to ensure that the desired goal can be attained effectively. This manager has a lot of work on his shoulders to motivate the emplyees and bring a change in their life to make a situation that would turn the situation into type 4.

Situation 4

In this situation employees are of type Y and the manager is also of type Y. Both are hardwoking and therefore, it is an ideal situation desired by all firms.

The major learning that happened through this theory was that when the manager is of type Y, the organization is more likely to move towards excellence irrespective of employee being X or Y type. If employees are of type Y, the situation is ideal. But majorly, the manager is the person who drives the organisation.