Overview
  • Early Development
  • McGregor’s Influence
  • Critiques of Theory X and Theory Y
  • Situational Leadership
   • Performance Readiness
   • Styles
  • Comparisons
  • Beliefs
     Early Development
      Theory X Assumptions           Theory Y Assumptions
      • Hard work only comes         • Physical and mental 
        when people are                efforts are natural
        threatened or controlled     • Workers will be self-
      • Prefers to be directed         directed if given clear 
      • Abhors responsibility          organizational goals
      • Managed with                 • Seeks responsibility
        punishment and tight         • Large number of 
        controls                       employees capable of 
                                       solving problems
  McGregor’s Influence
  • Revolutionized leadership abilities could 
   be taught
  • Manager’s primary obligation – Cause 
   subordinates to perform at their best
  • Diversity should be embraced
  • Predicted development of group-based 
   management
   Critiques of Theory X and Y
   • What is a theory?
     • Idea, not proven to be true
     • Always critiqued on validity
   • Theory X/Y unproven 
     • No systematic research
   • More research should be accomplished on managerial 
    assumptions
   • Theory X/Y used in:
     • Academic research
     • Among practitioners
     • Business school curriculums
   Situational Leadership – 
   Performance Readiness
   • Situational leadership performance readiness 
    has four categories of the follower
    Readiness level 1 – Unable and insecure (unwilling)
    Readiness level 2 – Unable but confident (willing)
    Readiness level 3 – Able but Insecure (unwilling)
    Readiness level 4 – Able and Confident (willing)