Douglas McGregor

Douglas McGregor, a social psychologist of Harvard and MIT fame, authored The Human Side of Enterprise in 1960. The book outlines two distinct styles of management. Theory X AND Theory Y. Theory X promotes an authoritarian management style, that emphasizes that 'management' must counteract an inherent human tendency to avoid work'. Theory Y promotes the idea that 'people will exercise self-direction and self-control in the achievement of organizational objectives to the degree that they are committed to those objectives.'' McGregor believed that Theory Y had the capacity to motivate human beings to the highest level of achievement. He, therefore, recommended Theory Y for adoption by companies.