EBM: The Grid

The concepts behind Theory Y laid the foundation for much of modern management thinking. One such idea that built upon Theory Y was the Blake Mouton Managerial Grid. This model originally identified five different leadership styles based on the concern for people and the concern for production. The optimal management style in this model is based on Theory Y.

The model is represented as a grid with concern for production as the X-axis and concern for people as the Y-axis; each axis ranges from 1 (Low) to 9 (High). The resulting management styles are as follows:

  • The impoverished style (1,1). In this style, managers have low concern for both people and production. Managers use this style to preserve job security and job seniority, protecting themselves by avoiding getting into trouble.
  • The country club style (1,9). This style has a high concern for people and a low concern for production. Managers using this style pay attention to the security and comfort of the employees, hoping that this will increase their performance.
  • The produce or perish style (9,1). With a high concern for production and a low concern for people, managers using this style find employee needs unimportant; they provide their employees with money and expect performance in return. Managers using this style also pressure their employees through rules and punishments to achieve the company goals.
  • The middle-of-the-road style (5,5). Managers using this style try to find balance between company goals and workers’ needs.
  • The team style (9,9). In this style, high concern is paid both to people and production. As suggested by Theory Y, managers choosing to use this style encourage teamwork and commitment among employees.

Blake and Mouton’s grid took a unique approach to managerial thinking. Rather than prescribe a “one best way” to manage, it is suggested that managers continuously adopt their style as the situation and people change.

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