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1 – 10 of over 9000
Article
Publication date: 9 March 2010

Richard E. Kopelman, David J. Prottas and David W. Falk

This paper aims to discuss the historical importance and current relevance of Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Y, and to suggest that the paucity of related empirical research is…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the historical importance and current relevance of Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Y, and to suggest that the paucity of related empirical research is, in part, attributable to the lack of validated measures. The present research seeks to describe the development and construct validation of a measure pertinent to Theory X/Y behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys completed by 512 working adults provide the present data. A total of 26 initial Theory X/Y behavior items are reduced to 13 through factor analysis. Convergent and discriminant validities are examined through correlational and regression analyses with measures of proximal, distal, and unrelated constructs. Test re‐test reliability is assessed using longitudinal panel data from a subset of respondents.

Findings

The results provide evidence of the construct validity of the new measure.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents are relatively young and drawn from one region of the USA. Future research should collect multi‐source and multi‐level data.

Practical implications

The 13‐item scale may be useful as a diagnostic tool for individual and organizational development.

Originality/value

This paper represents the first research endeavor that focuses on construct‐validating a measure of managerial X/Y behaviors, as distinct from attitudes. The scale can be used in substantive research, including a more robust test of McGregor's theorizing.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 May 2011

Travis L. Russ

This study aims to explore whether McGregor's theory X/Y assumptions are determinants of managers' propensity for participative decision making (PDM).

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether McGregor's theory X/Y assumptions are determinants of managers' propensity for participative decision making (PDM).

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys measuring theory X/Y assumptions and propensity for PDM were administered to 144 full‐time managers from divergent industries across the USA. The hypotheses were tested using linear regressions.

Findings

Results generally support McGregor's assertion that managers' theory X/Y assumptions are linked to PDM. Findings suggest that theory X managers perceive that PDM negatively impacts their power while theory Y managers perceive a positive consequence of soliciting employee participation on their supervisory power and organizational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

Although respondents represented diverse industries and organizations, the use of convenience sampling may temper generalizability of the findings. Also, the use of self‐reports may have elicited socially desirable responses. Greater attention is needed from researchers and practitioners to understand how managers' assumptions influence the adoption or avoidance of PDM.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that managers' predisposition for PDM is predicted to a large extent by their theory X/Y assumptions. These results provide a compelling case for managers to continuously question their assumptions about employees and critically examine whether their biases influence their decision‐making practices.

Originality/value

This study expands the landscape of PDM literature, adding further evidence that individual‐difference variables, in this case theory X/Y assumptions, greatly influence supervisors' biases about employee participation.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 49 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 October 2016

Madasu Bhaskara Rao

Motivation is the process that accounts for an individual’s intensity, direction and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal (Robbins and Judge, 2008). Teacher motivation is…

2787

Abstract

Purpose

Motivation is the process that accounts for an individual’s intensity, direction and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal (Robbins and Judge, 2008). Teacher motivation is vital to the growing and evolving field of higher education, yet it is not investigated enough. Need for rapid growth of higher education, issues in compensation, developments in information technology and dearth for teaching and technical skills brought teacher motivation to the center stage. The purpose of this paper is to apply McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y to study teacher motivation in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted through survey method. A questionnaire was designed to elicit responses from randomly selected respondents.

Findings

Teachers in higher education were classified under Theory X and Theory Y styles. The relationship between teaching style and specific motivators in the class and on the job, preferred teaching methods and classroom management techniques were investigated.

Research limitations/implications

Application of McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y to understand teacher motivation in higher education provided interesting and new insights.

Social implications

This study would have implications for teacher-student fit and institution-teacher fit in learning environments.

Originality/value

The nature of a teacher’s way-of-being matters to his/her motivation and performance in classroom. Implications exist for teacher recruitment and teacher training programs in relation to the profile of students and identifying and implementing right methodologies for classroom performance. This study has andragogical implications for classroom teaching, relationship with students and parents and interpersonal relationships among peers and education administrators.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1995

Tony Morden

A fundamental implication of the work of Hofstede, Hampden‐Turnerand Trompenaars, and other contributors to the developing body ofexperience and knowledge about international…

12845

Abstract

A fundamental implication of the work of Hofstede, Hampden‐Turner and Trompenaars, and other contributors to the developing body of experience and knowledge about international culture and management is that cultural interpretation and adaptation are a prerequisite to the comparative understanding of national and international management practice. Such knowledge can be applied to co‐operative international ventures; to entry into new countries and cultures; to human resource development in those countries; and to the effective development of skills and competences appropriate to the different market and operating environments of those countries and cultures.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 33 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2013

Travis L. Russ

This study seeks to explore whether McGregor's Theory X/Y assumptions are related to managers’ communication apprehension (CA) – their degree of comfort when interacting with…

10749

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to explore whether McGregor's Theory X/Y assumptions are related to managers’ communication apprehension (CA) – their degree of comfort when interacting with others.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys measuring Theory X/Y assumptions and CA were administered to 281 full‐time managers from divergent industries across the USA. Hypotheses were tested using correlations.

Findings

Moderate scores on the Theory X scale were positively correlated with traitlike CA and CA in interpersonal contexts. Managers’ total and high scores on the Theory Y scale were negatively correlated with traitlike CA and CA in groups, interpersonal conversations, and meetings. Moderate scores on the Theory Y scale were positively correlated with CA in groups. Low scores on the Theory Y scale were positively correlated with traitlike CA and CA in interpersonal and public speaking settings.

Originality/value

This study extends the broad landscape of literature on management communication. Findings deepen our understanding of how managers’ communicative dispositions are linked to their Theory X/Y assumptions.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 October 2022

Samra Chaudary, Sohail Zafar and Thomas Li-Ping Tang

Following behavioral finance and monetary wisdom, the authors theorize: Decision-makers (investors) adopt deep-rooted personal values (the love-of-money attitudes/avaricious…

379

Abstract

Purpose

Following behavioral finance and monetary wisdom, the authors theorize: Decision-makers (investors) adopt deep-rooted personal values (the love-of-money attitudes/avaricious financial aspirations) as a lens to frame critical concerns (short-term and long-term investment decisions) in the immediate-proximal (current income) and distal-omnibus (future inheritance) contexts to maximize expected utility and ultimate serenity across context, people and time.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 277 active equity traders (professional money managers and individual investors) in Pakistan’s two most robust investment hubs—Karachi and Lahore. The authors measured their love-of-money attitude (avaricious monetary aspirations), short-term and long-term investment decisions and demographic variables and collected data during Pakistan's bear markets (Pakistan Stock Exchange, PSX-100).

Findings

Investors’ love of money relates to short-term and long-term decisions. However, these relationships are significant for money managers but non-significant for individual investors. Further, investors’ current income moderates this relationship for short-term investment decisions but not long-term decisions. The intensity of the aspirations-to-short-term investment relationship is much higher for investors with low-income levels than those with average and high-income levels. Future inheritance moderates the relationships between aspirations and short-term and long-term decisions. Regardless of their love-of-money orientations, investors with future inheritance have higher magnitudes of short-term and long-term investments than those without future inheritance. The intensity of the aspirations-to-investments relationship is more potent for investors without future inheritance than those with inheritance. Investors with low avaricious monetary aspirations and without inheritance expectations show the lowest short-term and long-term investment decisions. Investors' current income and future inheritance moderate the relationships between their love of money attitude and short-term and long-term decisions differently in Pakistan's bear markets.

Practical implications

The authors help investors make financial decisions and help financial institutions, asset management companies, brokerage houses and investment banks identify marketing strategies and investor segmentation and provide individualized services.

Originality/value

Professional money managers have a stronger short-term orientation than individual investors. Lack of wealth (current income and future inheritance) motivates greedy investors to take more risks and become more vulnerable than non-greedy ones—investors’ financial resources and wealth matter. The Matthew Effect in investment decisions exists in Pakistan’s emerging economy.

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1990

Guy Jumarie

By combining the subjective probabilistic viewpoint of fuzziness with the entropy of deterministic functions, it is possible to expand an information theory of fuzzy sets which is…

Abstract

By combining the subjective probabilistic viewpoint of fuzziness with the entropy of deterministic functions, it is possible to expand an information theory of fuzzy sets which is fully compatible and consistent with the classical Shannonian information theoretic framework. A model of transinformation between fuzzy sets, which could be of help in approximate reasoning can be obtained, an interesting feature of which is that it can be duplicated in the framework of fuzzy set theory.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 November 2023

Warinrampai Rungruangjit and Kitti Charoenpornpanichkul

Food delivery applications (FDAs) are becoming more and more well-liked across Generations X, Y and Z, with Asia experiencing the biggest growth. These three generations of…

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Abstract

Purpose

Food delivery applications (FDAs) are becoming more and more well-liked across Generations X, Y and Z, with Asia experiencing the biggest growth. These three generations of consumers have distinct views toward using FDAs because they were influenced by various social environments, cultures and experiences. Therefore, marketers ought to present customers with various values. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the theory of consumption values (TCV) affects the intention of various generational cohorts to continued usage intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Online surveys were distributed to 745 Thai customers who had previously ordered meals from FDAs to collect information. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis.

Findings

Results reveal that there are significant differences among Generations X, Y and Z, while emotional value is insignificant. Generation X is concerned about functional and conditional value, whereas Generation Y expresses the highest concern on epistemic and social value. Meanwhile, Generation Z pays attention to epistemic, functional and social value.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study contributes to TCV affecting the different FDAs consumption value among Generations X, Y and Z, while the previous research only focused on gender and age difference, and this study firstly combines FDAs with TCV to predict the consumers’ intention to continuously use FDAs in the post-COVID-19 outbreak.

Details

Journal of Asia Business Studies, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1558-7894

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Economic Complexity
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-44451-433-2

Article
Publication date: 24 June 2019

Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

Unlike the effect of management styles on employee attitudes, little is known about the effect of managerial assumptions on workers within the gig economy. The purpose of this…

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Abstract

Purpose

Unlike the effect of management styles on employee attitudes, little is known about the effect of managerial assumptions on workers within the gig economy. The purpose of this paper is to utilize McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y as a framework to discuss two gig economy platforms and how their differing management assumptions affect worker perceptions of themselves as entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The author utilized qualitative interviews and demographic surveys with 41 contract workers from TaskRabbit, a personal assistant platform, and Kitchensurfing, a “rent-a-chef” service, to examine the impact of differing management assumptions on independent contractor perceptions of themselves as entrepreneurs.

Findings

The Theory X management assumptions and correlated behaviors directly contradict the entrepreneurial ethos marketed by the platforms, resulting in a psychological contract violation for workers and negative responses to the platform. In comparison, Theory Y managerial assumptions and correlated behaviors can be utilized to encourage worker innovation, creativity and sense of self as an entrepreneur.

Practical implications

As the gig economy continues to grow, algorithms are likely to take on increased importance as a management tool. Although some have suggested that such algorithms may reduce the impact of a capricious manager, the fact remains that algorithms are created by management. If the gig economy intends to encourage entrepreneurship, additional attention must be paid to how differing management assumptions, and their resulting behaviors and algorithms, affect worker attitudes and experience.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the initial academic investigations into how the Theory X and Theory Y management assumptions and correlated perspectives may be applied to independent contractors within the gig economy. Additionally, this study is among the first to examine how gig worker attitudes toward platform firms, and views of themselves as entrepreneurs, are affected by algorithm-implemented management policies.

Details

Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-3946

Keywords

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