The Meaning Of Work Motivation From The Perspective Of McGregor’s Theory X And Theory Y: A Study Of PPC Operators At PT Akashi Wahana Indonesia

Work motivation is a central issue in human resource management studies because it directly influences organizational effectiveness and sustainability. In the manufacturing industry context, work motivation plays a strategic role due to strict work systems, production target orientation, and the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) that demand high levels of employee discipline.
This study aims to understand the meaning of work motivation among employees of PT Akashi Wahana Indonesia from the perspective of McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires distributed to 33 Production Planning and Control (PPC) operators with a minimum of one year of work experience. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis.
The findings indicate that employees’ work motivation tends to reflect Theory Y assumptions, particularly in terms of work autonomy, willingness to take responsibility, and preference for empowering leadership styles. However, Theory X characteristics remain evident in the strong role of extrinsic motivation, especially financial incentives. This study confirms that employee work motivation lies on a Theory X–Y spectrum, with a dominant tendency toward Theory Y, influenced by job characteristics and the manufacturing organizational system.

Keywords: work motivation, Theory X and Y, organizational behavior, manufacturing employees, qualitative descriptive