Theory X & Y and Conflict Management

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Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using Brainmass. The solution below should get you started. In this particular task, you are asking for help in putting together a discussion on based on a number of resources. Since they are enumerated activities, I suggest using this simple outline:
1. Activity 1 -
A. about theory X & theory Y - 150 words
B. Preferred approach - 150 words
C. Controlling Boss/Effective work explanation - 200 words (no, look for options)
D. Preferred Boss - 150 words
E. Type of preferred manager, different approaches for members - 150 words
2. 5 Strategies to deal with team conflicts
A. Creative problem solving / Radjou - 2 strategies - 200 words
B. Role Functions - 3 strategies - 200 words
3. Resources

This outline should yield about 1,000 words which should cover what you need. You can use the listed resources to further explore the topic. You can use the feedback section if you need further clarification. A word version is attached. All the best with your studies.

Sincerely,
AE 105878/Xenia Jones
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Theory X and Theory Y

In the 1960's, Harvard alum Douglas McGregor, an American management professor at MIT Sloan School of Management (Juneja 2015) proposed his Theory X and Theory Y - paradigms of thought that explains human behavior in the workplace. McGregor was a colleague of American psychologist Abraham Maslow (the thinker behind Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs); Maslow's idea on self-actualization, according to McGregor, explains Theory Y managers (Yoshida 2020). The X and Y in the theories of behavior proposed by McGregor (Juneja 2015) described the 2 opposing views of individuals, where X is negative and Y is positive. The assumptions of each of these views (Juneja 2015) are as follows:

"Assumptions of Theory X
• An average employee intrinsically does not like work and tries to escape it whenever possible.
• Since the employee does not want to work, he must be persuaded, compelled, or warned with punishment so as to achieve organizational goals. A close supervision is required on part of managers. The managers adopt a more dictatorial style.
• Many employees rank job security on top, and they have little or no aspiration/ ambition.
• Employees generally dislike responsibilities.
• Employees resist change.
• An average employee needs formal direction.

Assumptions of Theory Y
• Employees can perceive their job as relaxing and normal. They exercise their physical and mental efforts in an inherent manner in their jobs.
• Employees may not require only threat, external control and coercion to work, but they can use self-direction and self-control if they are dedicated and sincere to achieve the organizational objectives.
• If the job is rewarding and satisfying, then it will result in employees' loyalty and commitment to organization.
• An average employee can learn to admit and recognize the responsibility. In fact, he can even learn to obtain responsibility.
• The employees have skills and capabilities. Their logical capabilities should be fully utilized. In other words, the creativity, resourcefulness and innovative potentiality of the employees can be utilized to solve organizational problems."

Juxtaposed against each other, theory X presents a pessimistic view of people's attitudes and behavior in the workplace, while theory Y is the optimistic opposite. Drawing once more from Maslow's ...