Assignment 3 : McGregor's Theory X Theory Y and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Limitations of McGregor's Theory X Theory Y

Theory X :

-  Theory X is linked to an assumption that employees are inherently lazy.


- Employees need to be under strict control and supervision to ensure their productivity.


- Employees prefer to be directed.


- Employees tend to dislike responsibility, are unambiguous, and desire security above everything.


- Theory X managers do not give their staff this opportunity so that the employees behave in the expected fashion.




Limitation : 


- Employees' ideas are not taken into consideration.


- This theory leads to mistrust, highly restrictive supervision, and a punitive atmosphere.


- The theory X manager tends to believe that everything must end in blaming someone. ( They will blame the person first in most situations, without questioning whether it may be the system, policy, or lack of training that deserves the blame.








Theory Y :


- Management assumes employees may be ambitious and self-motivated and exercise self- control.


-  It is believed that employees enjoy their mental and physical work duties.


- According to Papa, to them work is as natural as play.


- Given the proper conditions, theory Y managers believe that employees will learn to seek out and accept responsibility and to exercise self-control and self-direction in accomplishing objectives to which they are committed.


- It is believed that the satisfaction of doing a good job is a strong motivation. 


- As a comparison to theory X, managers with theory Y are more likely to develop the climate of trust with employees that is required for human resource development.




Limitation for both  theories as a whole :




- It presents only the two extremes of managerial behaviour, and are not different end of the same continuum, but rather two different continua in themselves.


- It is wise to manipulate these two theories depending on the situation but should not just stick right to one.






Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow argued that human needs consist of 5 types that make up a hierachy:

1. Physiological (bodily) needs – food, shelter, water and sex
2. Security needs – the need to be free from threats and danger
3. Social needs – the need to be loved and part of a group
4. Esteem needs – the need for self-respect and the respect of colleagues
5. Self-actualisation needs – the need to fulfill potential and develop personal skills

Limitations :



Maslow's theory of motivation (Hierarchy of Needs Theory) is very popular all over the world and provides guidelines to managers / managements for motivating employees. However, Maslow's theory has many limitations.
Limitations of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory are noted below :-

1. Maslow's theory is over simplified and is based on human needs only. There is lack of direct cause and effect relationship between need and behavior.
2. The theory has to refer to other motivating factors like expectations, experience and perception.
3. Needs of all employees are not uniform. Many are satisfied only with physiological needs and security of employment.
4. The pattern of hierarchy of needs as suggested by Maslow may not be applicable uniformly to all categories of employees.
5. 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.
6. Maslow's theory is widely accepted but there is little empirical evidence to support it. It is largely tentative and untested. Maslow's writings are more philosophical than scientific.