Home › MCQs › Public Adminstration › Question #9543
Back to Questions
Public Adminstration QUESTION #9543
Question 1
Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y are not simply motivational frameworks but carry deep implications for organizational design. A department that relies primarily on close supervision, rigid procedures and punitive control mechanisms is implicitly applying which assumption, and what structural consequence does this produce?
  • Theory Y — producing a flat, participative structure with wide spans of control
  • Theory X — producing a tall hierarchical structure with narrow spans of control and limited delegation✔️
  • Theory Y — producing functional departmentalization with specialized autonomous teams
  • Theory X — producing matrix organizations with overlapping functional and project authority
Correct Answer Explanation
Theory X assumes employees dislike work, avoid responsibility and require coercion. Structurally, this translates into tight supervision (narrow span), multiple hierarchical levels, little delegation and punitive control mechanisms — the antithesis of Theory Y's participative, trust-based structures.