Maslow's Theory Z
 Maslow's
Theory Z , presented in
Maslow on Management, presupposes that people, once having reached a
level of economic security, strive for a life steeped in values, a work life
where the person would be able to create and produce.
Management / Motivation Theories X and Y were developed by Douglas
Mcgregor. Theory Z is not a McGregor idea and as such is not
Mcgregor's extension of his XY theory.
Theory Z places more reliance on the attitude and responsibilities of the
workers, whereas Mcgregor's XY theory is mainly focused on management and
motivation from the manager's and organisation's perspective. While Theory Z
offers excellent ideas, it's quite a pity that most organizations could benefit
even through the application and understanding of Theory Y.
The March 1998 cover story in FORTUNE magazine is but one example of Maslow's
Theory Z in action. Entitled Yo, Corporate America - I'm the New Organization
Man, the article depicted the wants and needs of the new "gold collar
worker." Expecting to be well paid, this generation also believes they are
entitled to a job "that fun, a job that's cool, a job that lets them discover
who they really are." Work is not about paying the rent anymore - it's about
self-fulfillment.
"Work is not work. It's a hobby you happen to get paid for."
Theory Z - William Ouchi
Maslow's Theory Z should not be confused with
the book by William Ouchi bearing the same name.
Another, competing, Theory Z, was presented by William Ouchi, in his 1981 book
'Theory Z: How American management can Meet the Japanese Challenge'. William
Ouchi is professor of management at UCLA, Los Angeles, and a board member of
several large US organisations.
Ouchi's Theory Z is often referred to as the 'Japanese' management style.
Ouchi's Theory Z advocates a combination of the best of theory Y and
modern Japanese management, placing a large amount of freedom and trust with
workers, and assumes that workers have a strong loyalty and interest in
team-working and the organization.
The commonalities between Ouchi's Theory Z, and Maslow's is not
surprising, since Maslow's treatises on management and motivation shaped the
worlds of Deming and Drucker, who in turn rebuilt Japan after WWII, and whose
subsequent success in managing their people
and the resulting rise to global power is the subject of Ouchi's
book.
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