Assignment 3: Relational Strategies

What are the important limitations of McGregor's Theory X Theory Y?

1. Employees expectations and behavior

"Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others - sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores, and so on - can sometimes have dangerous side effects" (p 50).

2. People's motivations are formed by the cultural background

To motivate or manage people, we don't have to necessary use money  or intrinsic rewards such as wall of fame. E.g. I'm sure many people have watch the video clip about the Google office in Youtube. Almost all viewers could comment that they wish to work in such working culture, environment where work is very versatile, staffs are free to have any food or drink offered , gym, room for games and sport games.


Apart from that, in Latin America, job status and a good personal life are key motivators for people to work. In Saudi Arabia, family esteem is more important than public recognition.

3. Job Nature

Bobic and Davis (2003) argue that theory X orientations are more effective with routine or detailed tasks that require little flexibility and rely on structured environments

On the other hand, a theory Y style of management is more likely to be productive with highly innovative industries that value new ideas.
Think about job as a nurse or a lecturer; as medical assistance or education job field, it's difficult to apply extremely either Theory X or Theory Y on them.

 What are the important limitations Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

1. Contradiction of Order
Some cultures appear to place self-actualization needs before any others.
Malaysia- Rukun Negara "Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan" means Belief in God.
Religion is our culture. Belief in God> Security> protection and food.

2. No empirical evidence to support Maslow’s hierarchy as applying to all people
Needs of all employees are not uniform. Many are satisfied only with physiological needs and security of employment.
Some girls would starve or skip meal in order to save the money and get the dress or that pair of heels in a particular boutique that they would die if they do not do so.

3. Maslow's assumption of 'need hierarchy' does not hold good in the present age as each person has plenty of needs to be satisfied, which may not necessarily follow Maslow's need hierarchy.
E.g. When have extra money, Secondary school students would think of getting a pair of Nike or Addidas shoes while University or college students would thinking to get a smartphone or iPad.

4. Different people will place different weightings on their needs, and will have different relationships between motivating factors and their needs
 Money: Physiological? Security? Self-esteem?
To me, money gives me security. I feel insecure when have less than RM30 in my purse.

While the research of Maslow's theory has undergone limited empirical scrutiny, it still remains quite popular due to its simplicity and being the start of the movement away from a totally behaviorist/reductionistic/mechanistic approach to a more humanistic one.
However, he understood this and thought of his work as simply a method of pointing the way, rather than being the final say. In addition, he hoped that others would take up the cause and complete what he had begun.

Reference:
http://kalyan-city.blogspot.com/2010/06/maslow-hierarchy-of-needs-theory-of.html
http://www.ukessays.com/mba/management/maslows-hierarchy-needs.php