9 Managing pebptlf

in the r96os, Dougias McGregor, one of the key thinkers in this aÉa,
iormutated.the now'famo.us Theory
X and Tieory y. Theory X is the idea that peopte instinctivety dislike work and wi[[ do anything to avoid it.
Theory y is the more enlightened view that everybody has the
potential te find satisfaction ín work-
(gtheis have suggested Theory W (for 'whiptash), the ideá that most-work since the beginning of human

society has been done under conditions oftotat coercion, i'e' slavery-)...
subscribe to Theory X'
in any case, despite so much evidence to the contrary many managers stitt
believinj, for example, that their subordinates need constánt suPervision ifthey are to work effectively,
must be ¡mposed from above without consultation. This, of course,'makes for
or ihat decisions
authoritarian managers.
are wetl known tor the
Different cultures have different ways of managing peopte. Some cultures
naiure of decision-makíng - all members of the department or work group are asked to
consultative
have tried to
contribute to this process. This is management by consensus. Many western companíes
Asian ways ofdoing things. Some commentators say that
irnitate what they see as more consensuat
more efféctive managers than men because they have the power to build consensus
women wilt become
r;; ;;;;; go"ts ¡n a wav that traditional mate manageis cannot'
A recent tÁnc has been to encourage emptoyeel !g llse their own initiative,
to make decisions on
managers ftrst. This empowerment has been part of the trend towards
theirown without asking
in this way, a
downsizing: r€ducing the number of management layers in companies. After delayering
company may be left with iust a top tevet of senio¡: managers and ftont-line managers and employees
w¡th the public. Empowerm€nt.takes the idea of delegation much further than has
with'diréct contact
control to
I
. -..- l
'€J traditionatty been the case. Ernpowerment and detégation mean new forms of managgment
,l become more
ensure that the overatl business ptan is being fottowed and to ensure that operations
profitabte under the nerv organisation, rather than [ess'
Another trend is off.site or.virtual rnanagement, where teams of people linked by e'mail and the
:
judge the performance of the team

F[*
lnternet werk on projects from their own premises- Proiect managers
.members in terms of what they produce and cintributé to pro¡ects rathér than the amount of time they
spend on thern.

n .
lane \A/eightma n; Managing People,Chartereci Institute of Personnel and
peter Honey: tmproving Your People Skills, Chartered

warren Bennis . Douglas Mccregor Revisited

llstllute
Developme nt, Tggg

of Pe¡:sonnel and Development, 2oo1

- The Human side of Enterprise, wiley, eoor

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