Question

Gerard is a mid-level manager who believes that people do not like work and try to avoid it. He therefore controls, directs, and coerces employees to get them to work toward organizational goals. Which of the following is True of Gerard?

a) His actions are based on the principles of the human relations movement.
b) He is a Theory X manager.
c) He follows the principles of the quantitative management perspective.
d) He is a Theory Y manager.

Answer 1

Gerard is a Theory X manager based on his approach of controlling and coercing employees, which aligns with the principles of Theory X that assume employees are inherently unmotivated and dislike work.Hence, correct answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the description of Gerard's management style, it is evident that he embodies the principles of Theory X. According to Douglas McGregor's conceptualization of leadership behavior, Theory X managers assume that employees inherently dislike work, are not self-directed, and need to be controlled and coerced to meet organizational goals. Thus, Gerard's approach to managing his employees through control, direction, and coercion, as well as his belief that people try to avoid work, aligns with Theory X management. This is in contrast to Theory Y, where managers believe that employees are self-motivated, enjoy their work, and seek inner satisfaction and fulfillment from their work. Gerard's methods are not reflective of the qualitative management perspective or principles of the human relations movement, which emphasize employee satisfaction and participatory management. Therefore, the correct answer is that Gerard is a Theory X manager.