Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation by Douglas McGregor. In what way does McGregor's theory relate to the principles of Scientific Management?

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Question restatement: The prompt asks how McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y relate to the principles of Scientific Management, and presents four options to evaluate.
Option a: 'Scientific Management is based on the assumptions of Theory X' This aligns with classical Taylorism, which presumes workers are inherently lazy, need supervision, and require external control to be productive. Scientific Management emphasizes strict supervision, standardization, task fragmentation, and incentive-driven policing of performance, which matches Theory X assumptions.
Option b: 'Scientific Management is based on the assumption of Theory Y' Theory Y suggests workers are self-motivated, seek responsibility, and can manage themselves. Scientific Management does not emphasize empowerment or autonomy; it focuses on control and efficiency through supervision and standardization, which makes this option inaccurate.
Option c: 'Scientific Management is based on the assumptions of both Theory X and Y' While McGregor contrasts X and Y as opposing sets of assumptions, Scientific Management is primarily rooted in X assumptions about control and external motivation, not a balanced mix of both. Therefore, claiming it is based on both is misleading.
Option d: 'Scientific Management is not related to McGregor's theory' This is incorrect because McGregor explicitly contrasts his X theory with Y, and the relationship between Scientific Management and Theory X is a common point of discussion in management history; dismissing any relation ignores this analytical link.
Additional nuance: The core of Scientific Management centers on measuring work, standardizing tasks, and enforcing performance through supervision and monetary incentives, which historically reflects Theory X thinking rather than Theory Y's humanistic, participative approach. Hence, option a correctly identifies the alignment, while the other options mischaracterize the relationship or oversimplify the theories involved.

Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation by Douglas McGregor. In what way does McGregor's theory relate to the principles of Scientific Management?

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