Final answer:
Douglas McGregor is known for his Theory X and Theory Y styles of management. Theory X views employees as inherently disliking work and needing strict supervision, whereas Theory Y suggests employees are self-motivated and can find satisfaction in work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Douglas McGregor's views on individuals who pursue careers in management revolve around two different management styles known as Theory X and Theory Y. Theory X managers operate under the assumption that employees inherently dislike work and need to be coerced into performing their duties. They believe that employees prefer to be directed, must be closely supervised, and require a strict managerial structure to be motivated. Under Theory X, management relies on control strategies that involve punishments and threats rather than incentives and rewards to achieve organizational goals.
Conversely, McGregor's Theory Y presents an opposing view of management and human relations, suggesting a participative style of leadership that encourages self-direction and self-control among employees, a belief that people can be ambitious and self-motivated and that they can enjoy their work under the right conditions. Theory X and Theory Y represent two ends of the spectrum of managerial beliefs about worker motivation and behavior, which McGregor posited to describe how people's attitudes towards work affect their management style.