McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y
Management theorist Douglas McGregor was heavily influenced by the Hawthorne Studies and Maslow, and believed that managers needed to devote more attention to the social and self-actualising needs of people at work. He proposed that managers needed to shift their view of human nature from ‘Theory X’ assumptions of employees to ‘Theory Y’.
According to McGregor, Theory X managers take a pessimistic view that people fundamentally dislike work and need to be managed. ‘Theory Y’ managers tend take a more positive view of employees, generally believing that they are willing and motivated to work and accept responsibility. He theorised that managers with ‘Theory X’ assumptions of employees often act in a very ‘command and control’ manner, whereas those who hold more ‘Theory Y’ assumptions are likely to manage in a more consultative fashion.