MacGregor

A true story thats almost too good

to believe. The most highly touted
plant manager in the company. Also
the manager who perfects his golf
game on company time.
Arthur Elliott Carlisle is professor of
management at the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst.
A graduate of McGill University.
He received his Ph.D from
the University of Michigan.

Dr. Carlisle has published in the fields of industrial
relations, was doing research in organizational
decision making.
Arthur Elliott Carlisle

1. Encounter with MacGregor
Encounter with MacGregor came about during
the course of a study of the extent to which operating
managers actually use participative management
techniques in their dealings with subordinates.

2. Questionnaire during interview
Questionnaire asked whether the interview held regular
meetings with his subordinates; if so, how often.
Asked whether subordinates were offered the opportunity
to initiate discussion and actively participate in the
decision-making process.
3. MacGregor was the last of more than 100 managers
he interviewed in the course of the study.
What do you think how was Arthurs opinion about
MacGregor after talking on the phone?

MacGregor
* was manager of one of the largest refineries in the
country.
* Super-organized manager to the point where he had
time to play enormous amount of golf.
* Has really much free time (only 1 routine meeting at
Thursday at 10.00 a.m.)
* Quit making others decision (His subordinates just tell
him about the decision theyve made during the past week
in Thursday meeting)

What do you think is the point of
MacGregors meeting?
Subordinate Johnson
He insisted that MacGregor really hadnt
made any dicisions.
He once tried to consult Macgregor but the
result was he made his own solution under
MacGregor supervision.

Subordinate Peterson
Also insisted that MacGregor hadnt made any
decisions.
When he got problems, he turn to the
Thursday man, and together they worked it
out.
At the Thursday meeting he report on the
decisions and gave credit to his helper.
The way Macgregor let his
subordinates work on their own.
What is your opinion about this?
Is it positive or negative?

The way MacGregor let
his subordinates make
decision:
1. Choose condition of
satisfaction
2. List out the solutions
and the result of the
solutions
3. Combine the solutions
or choose the solutions
that can be fulfill the
satisfaction
MacGregor has the most
efficient producing unit even
he just has the oldest
equipment in the
corporation.
By what reasons MacGregors unit was
the most efficient producing unit?
Why he let the employees make mistake?
Lets try to imagine that you are a manager,
then your subordinates took a decision
without your permission. Then, the
decision that your subordinates took,
become a disaster for the company,
and the head office
blaming you and your work.
MacGregor let someone who works for him make
such a serious mistake and take the blame.
Is it possible to use this strategy in your country? Why?
Discussion Questions
Is MacGregors Managing system
better or more useful than usual
managing system? Why?
In your opinion, what is the
advantages and disadvantages by
using MacGregor Managing system?