An image of humanity is literally an image we have of people. These are often unconscious and implicit images, assumptions and thoughts. These thoughts can underlie the view on the actions, behavior or attitude of other people. This human image test provides a (general) picture of views on people’s commitment and attitude, especially with regard to the work situation/activity. Do you want to know what your views are? Then take this human image test.
Human image test
This list was developed by McGregor (the x/y theory). By answering these statements you can find out what you think about a certain attitude of people (which humans seem to have as a natural tendency). It is stated in more detail at the end of the scoring table.
The list consists of 10 statements, each with an A and B distinction. The intention is to indicate 2 scores for each item, each pair. Indicate 2 scores for each pair , from 0 to 10. This indicates the extent to which you agree (maximum score is 10) or disagree (maximum score is 0) with the statements. It is important that the total number of points for the pairs is always 10 (so, for example, 7 points for A, automatically means 3 points for B, etc.).
It is also important that you respond to the statements as you really think about them and not as you would like people to be/act. The questionnaire is not really a test, but rather provides an indication. Furthermore, there are no right or wrong answers; one is not better than the other. Note: this refers to employees; this concerns both male and female employees.
Divide 10 points between A and B for each question
Statements from the human image test
|
01 |
a |
It is very human that people will work as little as possible if they are given the opportunity to do so |
… |
b |
When people do not want to work, it is usually because they do not experience their work as meaningful |
… |
|
02 |
a |
If employees get the information they want, they will generally have a better attitude to work and a willingness to take on more responsibility |
… |
b |
If employees are given more information than they need for their job, they will easily abuse it |
… |
|
03 |
a |
One problem with asking for employees’ ideas is that their perspective is so limited that their suggestions may not have much practical value |
… |
b |
Asking employees for their ideas will broaden their perspective, generating helpful suggestions |
… |
|
04 |
a |
If employees don’t get many inventive ideas about their work, it’s probably because they don’t have many ideas either |
… |
b |
Most people are creative and inventive, but cannot show this because management and work do not give them the opportunity to do so. |
… |
|
05 |
a |
Employees will raise their standards if they are made responsible for their own behavior and can correct their own mistakes |
… |
b |
Employees will lower their standards if they are not corrected for misbehaviors and mistakes |
… |
|
06 |
a |
It is better to give people both the good and the bad news, because people prefer to hear the whole story, even when it is painful |
… |
b |
It is better to withhold the bad news from people, because people prefer to hear only the good news |
… |
|
07 |
a |
If an employee is right and management is not, the prestige of management will be damaged if management were to admit this. |
… |
b |
If an employee is right and management is not, the prestige of management will increase if management were to admit this |
… |
|
08 |
a |
If you pay people generously, they will have less need for influence, responsibility and recognition |
… |
b |
If you offer people interesting and challenging work, they will probably complain less about money and allowances |
… |
|
09 |
a |
If employees can set their own goals, they will be higher than if management did this |
… |
b |
If employees can set their own goals, they will be lower than if management were to do this |
… |
|
09 |
a |
The more knowledge and freedom someone has with regard to their work, the more control is needed to keep them in line |
… |
b |
The more knowledge and freedom someone has with regard to their work, the less control is needed to keep them in line |
… |
Enter the scores you gave for the above items at A and B in the table below and then add them up (per row).
Problems A and B
|
Item |
Letter |
Letter |
|
01 |
A = |
B = |
|
02 |
B = |
A = |
|
03 |
A = |
B = |
|
04 |
A = |
B = |
|
05 |
B = |
A = |
|
06 |
B = |
A = |
|
07 |
A = |
B = |
|
08 |
A = |
B = |
|
09 |
B = |
A = |
|
10 |
A = |
B = |
|
Total |
…….. |
…….. |
|
X theory |
Y theory |
|
|
‘negative’ |
‘positive’ |
|
|
‘bad’ |
‘Good’ |
Meaning of the scores
- X theory: man is lazy by nature and not really willing to work
- Y theory: humans are naturally willing to take responsibility.
The score table shows that I have … points more/less for the X theory than the Y theory.