This was followed in 1960 by the human side of enterprise, a book in which he presents a more comprehensive description of theory x and y and provides a number of theory y management practices mcgregor 1960. For some time now i have, at intervals, come across the influence of this book and have never thought to look for the source or follow. Before douglas mcgregors seminal work on management, employees were often presumed to be lazy and unmotivated. The human side of enterprise by douglas mcgregor goodreads. He referred to these two perceptions as theory x and theory y. Kopelman professor of management baruch college david j. In the 1960 s, douglas murray mcgregor, a famous mit professor of management wrote a book named the human side of enterprise in which he analyzed the various behaviors of professionals at work. Theory x and theory y management oxford bibliographies. Theory x and theory y, introduced in the book and are known for management and human motivation. Mcgregors theory x and theory y simple book production. Douglas mcgregor, an american social psychologist, proposed his famous xy theory in his 1960 book the human side of enterprise. Both of these theories begin with the premise that managements role is to assemble the.
It brought out the discussion on how best to treat the workforce to increase productivity. Today, with the rise of the global economy, the information revolution, and the growth of knowledgedriven work, mcgregors simple but provocative question continues to resonateperhaps. Create your citations, reference lists and bibliographies automatically using the apa, mla, chicago, or harvard referencing styles. This article and video will explore mcgregor s theory further. It encapsulated a fundamental distinction between management styles.
The human side of enterprise by douglas mcgregor 1960. This book, written in 1960, is one of the true management classics, one of the greatest and most influential management books of the past century. In his 1960 management book, the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor made his mark on the history of organizational management and motivational psychology when he proposed the two theories by which managers perceive employee motivation. Managing the human side of the enterprise by gary heil, warren bennis, et al. Review by alice waagen book by douglas mcgregor publisher. This article describes the theory x and theory y of douglas mcgregor.
Douglas mcgregor management gurus theory x and theory y. Although mcgregors book on the theory was not published until 1960, he first outlined it in a speech at mits. Wise, witty and insightful, he had extraordinary respect for his employees and believed that if they had the opportunity, they would be enthusiastic, responsible and ethical in the workplace. He therefore wrote a subsequent book in 1967 to dispel. In 1960, douglas mcgregor developed a leadership theory mcgregor theory x and theory y about organization and management in which he. Early life influences douglas mcgregor was born in detroit in 1906 just as it was starting to become the centre of the carproduction industry in america. Theory x and theory y are still referred to commonly in the field of management and motivation, and whilst more recent studies have questioned the rigidity of the model, mcgregor s xy theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management. He believed this so strongly that he wrote this book in 1960 and forever changed management, whose predominant philosophy at that time was that people were inherently lazy, and would work only. Theory y from douglas mcgregors 1960 book the human side of enterprise. The human side of enterprise work by mcgregor britannica. Aug 21, 2015 in 1960, douglas mcgregor developed a leadership theory mcgregor theory x and theory y about organization and management in which he represented two opposing perceptions about people. Jim was a fellow manager at hanover insurance, and we often reflected on the diseases produced by the prevailing hierarchical management practices of that time. In this book mcgregor challenged many of the prevailing managerial. So began douglas mcgregor in this 1960 management classic.
Nov 30, 2016 further study and empirical research resulted in one of his bestseller book. The human side of enterprise international student editions mcgrawhill international student editions penguin business library. Douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 was a psychology professor at massachusetts institute of technology whose 1960 book the human side of enterprise had a profound influence on management practises. Davis colonel tooele army depot douglas mcgregors landmark book, the human side of enterprise 1960, changed the path of management. His 1960 book the human side of enterprise had a profound influence on education practices.
Mcgrawhill, 1960 when i was struggling as a manager many years ago, participatory management was considered a new and revolutionary way to manage people. He referred to these opposing motivational methods as theory x and theory y management. This was followed in 1960 by the human side of enterprise, a book in which he presents. Mcgregors theory was published in 1960 in his book, the human side of enterprise but his ideas started a long time before as he was growing up in detroit. It took 12 years for it to come to my atten tion, and his lingo didnt enter the main stream of vocabulary until the early. They were created by douglas mcgregor while he was working at the mit sloan school of management in the 1950s, and developed further in the 1960s. I bought it because of my passion for people and my keen interest in how the application of behavioural science to management practices might improve productivity in the organization. In mcgregor 1957b, he further develops his thinking in terms of theory x and theory y as it relates to performance appraisal. In the 1960s, social psychologist douglas mcgregor developed two contrasting theories that explained how managers beliefs about what motivates their people can affect their management style.
Douglas mcgregor the text deals with policies and practices in the management of human resources in business and industrial organization, examining them in the light of current social science knowledge about human. Biographical sketch of douglas mcgregor douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 is one of the forefathers of contemporary management thinking. During his career douglas mcgregor didnt publish much. In this book mcgregor challenged many of the prevailing managerial assumptions about worker motivation and behaviour.
The human side of enterprise douglas mcgregor 1960. Douglas mcgregor wrote a book, the human side of enterprise, which was published in 1960. Theory x and theory y are still referred to commonly in the field of management and motivation, and whilst more recent studies have questioned the rigidity of the model, mcgregors xy theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop. Although mcgregors book on the theory was not published until 1960, he first outlined it. Prottas assistant professor of management adelphi university anne l. The content of the book is about individual management assumptions, in relation to the human nature and the way a manager manages his or her employees.
Access a free summary of the human side of enterprise, by douglas mcgregor and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract. Feb 16, 2006 the original book, the human side of enterprise, by douglas mcgregor, was written in 1960, and is still relevant today. The original book, the human side of enterprise, by douglas mcgregor, was written in 1960, and is still relevant today. On my second day, i purchased a management book entitled, the human side of enterprise, written in 1960 by douglas mcgregor 1. A social psychologist, he is most notably known for his theory x and theory y from his 1960 book, the human side of enterprise, which had a profound influence on the management field. Douglas mcgregors theory x and theory y of motivation. A participatory manager served more as a partner and enabler than as a director of work and tasks. Theory x and theory y in his 1960 book, the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor proposed two theories by which to view employee motivation. Douglas mcgregors 1960 theories were interpreted by some leaders as managerial and leadership strategies. His 1960 book the human side of enterprise had a profound influence on education practices mcgregor was a student of abraham maslow. Douglas murray mcgregor 1906 1 october 1964 was a management professor at the mit sloan school of management and president of antioch college from 1948 to 1954. In the book he identified two approaches to motivating workers, which he called theory x and theory y.
Douglas mcgregor then arrived at the conclusion that the style of leadership depends on the. It was a seemingly simple question he asked, yet it led to a fundamental revolution in management. Theory x percieves employees to be lazy, irresponsible and untrustworthy, while according to theory y employees are approached as one of the most valuable assets of the company. Douglas mcgregor created two distinct assumptions about the employee. Two important suppositions form the basis of this material.
Douglas mcgregor author of the human side of enterprise. Mcgregor describes theory x and theory y, two fundamentally different ways managers view their employees. The human side of enterprise free summary by douglas mcgregor. The idea that a managers attitude has an impact on employee motivation was originally proposed by douglas mcgregor, a management professor at the massachusetts institute of technology during the 1950s and 1960s. He referred to these opposing motivational methods as theory x and. Mcgregor douglus, business library johnson foundation collection.
The text deals with policies and practices in the management of human resources in business and industrial organization, examining them in the light of current social science knowledge about human nature and behavior. Management of education resource centre and capacity development in nigerian universities. In his groundbreaking book the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor 19061954 drew a distinction between autocratic and humanist styles of management, coining the terms theory x. In his 1960 book, the human side of enterprise, mcgregor proposed two theories by which managers perceive and address employee motivation. Douglas mcgregors landmark book, the human side of enterprise, changed the path of management thinking and practice by questioning fundamental assumptions about human behavior in organizations. Theory x and theory y are still referred to commonly in the field of management and motivation, and whilst more recent studies have questioned the rigidity of the model, mcgregors xy theory remains a valid basic principle from which to develop positive management. The human side of enterprise 1960, by douglas mcgregor time. These theories continue to be important even today. Theory x and theory y team management training from.
The human side of enterprise by douglas mcgregor essay bartleby. While in high school, mcgregor worked as night clerk at the mcgregor institute, a family affair originally established by his grandfather, but managed by his father and his uncle to provide temporary accommodation for around 100 transient workers at a time. Mcgregor s work was rooted in motivation theory alongside the works of abraham maslow, who created the hierarchy of needs. He is best known for his development of the theory x and theory y, a leadership theory on two different leadership styles biography douglas mcgregor. The human side of enterprise douglas mcgregor the text deals with policies and practices in the management of human resources in business and industrial organization, examining them in the light of current social science knowledge about human. Douglas murray mcgregor 1906 1 october 1964 was an american organizational theorist and management professor at the mit sloan school of management and president of antioch college from 1948 to 1954. Theory x and theory y are theories of human work motivation and management. Other articles where douglas mcgregor is discussed. Douglas mcgregor s landmark book, the human side of enterprise, changed the path of management thinking and practice by questioning fundamental assumptions about human behavior in organizations.
Theory y managers role is to lead a group of people who want to do a good job. Theory x and theory y was an idea devised by douglas mcgregor see article in his 1960 book the human side of enterprise. According to the prevailing view, which he labeled theory x, workers were. The human side of enterprise by douglas mcgregor essay. Theoryxandtheoryy theory x and theory y in his 1960. After reading you will understand the background and the practical basics of these leadership styles what is theory x and theory y. He also taught at the indian institute of management calcutta. Douglas mcgregor 1906 1964 was a famous management professor in the field of personal development and motivational theory. In this book mcgregor goes into great detail describing his management theories, which have been impacting management styles for over 50. In his groundbreaking book the human side of enterprise, douglas mcgregor 19061954 drew a distinction between autocratic and humanist styles of management, coining the terms theory x for the autocratic and theory y for the humanist.
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