Theory X , Y and Z

Comparison among Theory X , Theory Y and Theory Z :

Theory X ('authoritarian management' style)

-     The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can.

-     Therefore most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards organisational objectives.

-     The average person prefers to be directed; to avoid responsibility; is relatively unambitious, and wants security above all else.

Theory Y ('participative management' style)

-      Effort in work is as natural as work and play.

-     People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organisational objectives, without external control or the threat of punishment.

-     Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement.

-     People usually accept and often seek responsibility.

-     The capacity to use a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in solving organisational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population.

-     In industry the intellectual potential of the average person is only partly utilised. 

Theory Z ('Japanese' management style)

- Long-term employment and job security

- Collective responsibility

- Implicit, informal control with explicit, formalized measures

- Collective decision-making

- Slow evaluation and promotion

- Moderately specialized careers

- Concern for a total person, including their family