Give a list of the motivational techniques. Critically evaluate the motivational techniques of your organisation.

Give a list of the motivational techniques. Critically evaluate the motivational techniques of your organisation or an organisation you are familiar with. Do you think they are conducive for a productivity oriented work culture? Justify your answer.

Ans. Theory X vs. Theory Y.
Theory X and Theory Y have been proposed to understand the behavioural working under them. These assumptions influence then behaviours. Megregors proposed his classic view of people. Their view is expressed in two sets of assumptions developed by Douglas McGregor & is known as Theory X & Theory Y. According to McGregor the Managing activity must start with how managers are themselves in relation to others. This viewpoint requires some thought of perception of human nature. Theory X and theory Y are two sets of assumptions about nature of people. McGregor chose these terms to provide neutral terminology without any connection of good or bad..
Theory X Assumptions: According to the McGregor the people nature is as follows:
1. Average human has a dislike of work and will avoid it if they can.
2. Because human don’t like work, people must be coerced, controlled, directed and threatened with punishment to get them to put forth adequate efforts towards achievement of organisation objectives.
3. Average Human beings prefer to be directed with to avoid responsibility, have relatively little ambition and want security above all.

Theory Y assumptions: The assumptions under theory Y are seen as :
1. The expenditure of physical effort and mental effort in work is as natural as play or rest.
2. External control and the threat of punishment are not the only means for producing effort toward organisation objectives. People will exercise self direction and self control in service of objectives to which they are committed.
3. The degree of commitment to objectives is in proportion to the size of the reward associated with their achievement.
4. Average human beings learn, under proper conditions, not only to accept responsibility but also to seek it.
5. The capacity to exercise a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in the solution of organisation problem is widely, not continuously.
6. Under the conditions of modern industrial life, the intellectual potentialities of the average human beings are only potentially utilised.

The two assumptions are fundamentally different. Theory X is pessimistic, static and rigid. The control is external that is imposed on the subordinate by the superior. In contrast Theory Y is optimistic, dynamic, & flexible with an emphasis on self-direction and the integration of individual needs with organisational demands. There is little doubt that each set of assumptions will affect the managers’ way of carrying out their functions.

McGregor was concerned that Theory X &Y might be misinterpreted theory X & Y are only assumptions and not the prescriptions or suggestions for managerial strategies. They are such assumptions, which must be tested against reality, and is intuitive deduction having no research base.

These are also not the had or self-management hard approach may provide resistance & antagonism. Soft management may result in laissez-faire management incongruent with Theory Y. Effective manager recognizes dignity and capabilities along with limitation of people & adjusts the behaviours as demanded by situation.

Theory X & Theory Y are not viewed as being on a continuous scale, with theory X & Y opposite streams. They are not matters of degree, rather they are different view of people.

A discussion of theory Y is not a case for consensus management nor is it an argument against the use of authority. Under the theory Y, authority is seen as only one of the ways manages exert relationship.

Different tasks and situations require a variety of approaches to management. At times authority are structure may be effective for certain tasks as found in research. They found that different approach is effective in different situations. Productive enterprise is one that fits task requirement to people and the particular situation. Yes, these theories are good for productivity and result oriented. Hence, these theories should applied in real life.