In the 1960s, Douglas McGregor highlighted that "old-fashioned" management perceived workers as being resistant to work and tried to avoid it. He referred to this perspective as Theory X, based on a management style characterized by control and constraint.
In contrast, McGregor presented an alternative view of workers who find pleasure in both physical and intellectual effort associated with work, considering it as enjoyable as leisure activities. However, certain conditions must be met for this to occur:
- Feeling committed to the objective
- Demonstrating self-management and self-direction
This alternative perspective is known as Theory Y, which emphasizes delegation and participation in management.
Building on Theory Y, Jane Mouton and Robert Blake developed the Managerial Grid. This grid offers a management framework beyond mere productivity, considering the manager's interest in the human and relational aspects of their role.