Public Administration

Reflection Essay 4

Jennifer Karie Hahn Secure

Barry University

How many people in the world work at a job they love? If there were a survey, would most people be Theory X; Lazy, unenthusiastic about where they work, what they do, whom they work for, whom they work with, and their current career? I know I want a job that I am enthusiastic about or actually a career.

Taking this course, leading to a masters hopefully will lead to a position where I can be a Theory Y employee, working with Theory Y manager. A manager that praises and encourages employees for their work. When employees are pleased and feel respected in the work their self-esteem increase, which can make their work product better. Managers are only as good as the people below them.

Working for the school district was something that I had wanted for a very long time. Not exactly sure what it was that attracted me to this ‘company’. The school I started at employed mainly Theory Y employees, even the principal. Then, I was employed by another school where the principal was more a Theory X type manager. The surrounding employees as well seemed to be Theory X, unhappy, temperamental, and reluctant to help fellow peers. Following this principal to another school, brought out my Theory Y attributes. I believe that my attitude toward work influenced the employees surrounding me.

Advancing again, currently, the supervisor is a micromanager and does not know how to delegate. As a person outside of the workforce, they are wonderful. As a manager, in my opinion, they lack the necessities of being a Theory Y manager and clearly are a Theory X manager. The department’s employees are a brutal mixture of both theories. Thankfully, the department separated into different locations and I am becoming a Theory Y employee again.

Relocated a few of the staff members, to include the manager, the Hawthorne effect comes into play. Attitudes changed in how employees felt with the overall...