Overview of the theory Z

Following the X and Y theory given by Douglas McGregor in the 1960s, William Ouchi introduced Theory Z in his book “Theory Z: How American Companies Can Meet Japanese Challenge” in 1981. The theory is based on American and Japanese philosophies along with some effective Japanese management strategies that can assist in tackling workplace issues in the United States.

Image explaining key characteristics of theory Z

To continue, Theory Z is analogous to Theory Y, yet there are some additional characteristics of theory Z that make it even more participative and practical in the contemporary business world. Theory Z states that the high involvement of the employee in a business is the key to the success of any organization. Some of the key characteristics of the Theory Z are highlighted below

1. Collective decision making

Managers in Theory Z believe in involving their employees in the decision-making process to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the decision-making process.

2. Long term employment

In Theory Z, employees and managers believe in a long-term relationship with the organization. Hence, the managers believe in engaging and retaining employees for a long period of time.

3. Evaluation and promotion

Employees and managers expect effective communication and efficient forth and back of feedback to evaluate the performance of employees and the organization. In addition to this, the employees also expect promotion, however, Theory Z emphasizes the fact that the pace of evaluation and promotion in a workplace should be slow and steady to enhance the efficiency of the organization.

4. Informal structure

The organization practicing Theory Z has an informal structure and the power of decision-making is excessively decentralized and majorly no hierarchy is maintained by the company.

Moving ahead, below mentioned are a few of the ways in which the theory can be applied in the workplace.

The implication of the theory in a workplace

1. Implement long term employment contracts

Introducing long-term employment contracts in a workplace will assist in assuring the employees and employers the security of job and service. Along with the surety of a job, the implication of this theory in a workplace will also encourage the stability of a positive environment in an organization for a long period of time.

2. Promote open communication policies

Encouraging employees to openly express their viewpoints and opinions will assist in taking collective and best possible decisions that are for the betterment of the organization. This will further assist in making employees believe that the company acknowledges their point of view and this will also lead to increasing the trust of employees in the company. Hence, a company can promote open communication policies to encourage employees to express themselves without any fear of upper management.

3. Conduct regular feedback session

Providing and taking feedback from the employees will create effective communication within the organization. This will clear the expectation of employees and employers from each other and will assist in the elimination of hindrances occurring in the working culture or environment.

Probing further, this is one of the theories that is highly accepted in the modern world, therefore, highlighting the importance of the theory will give us a better understanding of the theory and the reasoning behind its wide acceptance of the theory in the contemporary world.

Importance of implementing the theory

Moving ahead, implementing this theory in a workplace brings many benefits along. Hence, the given below are some of the causes to implement this theory in a workplace.

1. Assists in creating mutual trust among the team

The utilization of collaborative and participative approaches in decision-making can assist in creating a relationship of trust among the employees and managers. This will give the team a sense of belongingness and enhances effective communication and promotes a healthy work environment.

2. Helps in increasing employee engagement

The implication of the theory in a workplace will also assist in engaging and retaining employees. Because once the employees feel authoritative and are highly involved in the big decisions of the company, the sense of belongingness engages and retains employees more.

3. Assists in creating a better sense of commitment

Another benefit of implementing this theory is that longer employment can assist in gaining loyalty from employees and makes them more loyal to the company.

Switching to the other side, there are some limitations of the theory that need to be taken into consideration while implementing the theory in the workplace.

Limitations of the theory

1. Lack of structure can cause conflicts

Although lack of structure can assist in creating a positive environment, conflict of interest among the employees can create a problem for the company in the longer run.

2. Makes the decision-making process complex

Another limitation of this theory is that the involvement of every employee in the decision-making process can make it more complex and time-consuming for employers.

3. Breach of sensitive information

Another limitation of the theory lies in the fact that involving employees in the important decision-making process can cause a breach of sensitive information from employees’ sides in exchange for some monetary or non-monetary benefits

To understand the theory in the most efficient manner, an example of the implication of the theory on one of the key players in the automobile industry is presented

Example of implementing the theory Z in a workplace

Tesla is one of the biggest automobile companies in the world with a revenue of $57.826B as of 2021. One of the key causes of the success of Tesla is the perspective of the CEO, Elon Musk, towards the structuring and operation of the company.

Tesla implies Theory Z for motivating employees in a workplace and encourages open communication in the organization.

Elon Musk does not believe in following the hierarchy in the organization and even does not practice it in the organization. Tesla has multiple open communication policies that state that every employee has the right to text/email individuals in the upper management regarding any problem or suggestion regarding the company.

Elon Musk further states that the elimination of the hierarchy in the organization increased productivity and enhanced the creativity skills of the employees.

Key takeaway - Implementation of the theory in a workplace assisted in creating a positive work environment along with increased productivity of the employees.

FAQs

What are the assumptions of Theory Z?

While Theory Z provides valuable insights into effective management practices, its application may vary depending on the cultural context and organizational structure. Some elements of Theory Z may be more suitable for certain industries or organizations with a focus on long-term stability and employee loyalty.

Can Theory Z be applied universally across all industries and organizations?

Yes, Rolfe et al's framework can be effectively combined with other reflective models or theories to enrich the reflective process. The simplicity and adaptability of the three-question approach make it compatible with various theoretical perspectives, enabling a more comprehensive and multi-dimensional reflection.