Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y

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Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y

Biography of Douglas McGregor

Douglas McGregor was born on 1906 in Detroit, America. In 1895, it was

here that his grandfather, Thomas McGregor started his business and

given its name as, McGregor Institute. The business provides

assistance to Great Lakes sailors and other transient labour. The

Institute provided shelter, warmth and food to approximately 100 men

every year. When Thomas McGregor passed away, his son Murray McGregor

(Douglas’s father) continued to manage the business. During high

school, Douglas McGregor worked as a night clerk and played the piano

and organ at the chapel services. At work, he became familiar with the

employees and their problems. In 1936, McGregor Institute came to an

end and it was sold for $100,000 to the Goodwill Industries.

After high school, McGregor went to Oberlin College and then attended

to Wayne University, where he had graduated in 1932. While at college,

he was married and left his college work for about five years to save

enough money to start a family. McGregor began as a gasoline station

attendant in Buffalo and quickly progressed to district manager of

stations in the Detroit region.

In 1935, he received a PhD degree from Harvard University in

Experimental Psychology. McGregor was a brilliant student at Harvard

that; he achieved an A grade in every course.

After his graduation from Harvard University, he became a Professor of

Psychology and taught there f...

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