• Theory X and Theory Y
• Theory X
• Theory X - The Hard Approach and Soft Approach
• The Problem with Theory X
• Theory Y
• Theory Y Management Implications

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. He avoided descriptive labels and simply called the theories Theory X and Theory Y. Both of these theories begin with the premise that management's role is to assemble the factors of production, including people, for the economic benefit of the firm. Beyond this point, the two theories of management diverge.