McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y and Motivation-Hygiene Theory

McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y

This theory was developed by Douglas McGregor and describes two distinct views of human nature.
1. Theory X was the assumption that employees dislike work, are lazy, seek to avoid responsibility,
and must be coerced to perform.
2. Theory Y was the assumption that employees are creative, seek responsibility, and can exercise
self-direction.
3. Theory X assumed that lower-order needs (Maslow’s) dominated individuals, and Theory Y
assumed that higher-order needs dominated.

Motivation-Hygiene Theory

This is the theory developed by Frederick Herzberg that suggests that intrinsic factors are related to job
satisfaction and motivation, and extrinsic factors are associated with job dissatisfaction. The basis of
Herzberg’s theory is that he believed that the opposite of satisfaction was not dissatisfaction. Removing
dissatisfying characteristics from a job would not necessarily make the job satisfying. Frederick Herzberg’s
two-factor theory states that there are only two categories of needs.

Hygiene factors are factors that eliminate dissatisfaction. They include things such as supervision,

company policy, salary, working conditions, security and so forth—extrinsic factors associated with job
context, or those things surrounding a job.
Hygiene factors are necessary to keep workers away from feeling dissatisfied. There are several hygiene
factors.
a. Pay
b. Working conditions
c. Supervisors
d. Company policies
e. Benefits