Maslow on Management

Enlightened Economics and Management

Assume that everyone prefers to be a prime mover rather than a passive helper, a tool, a cork tossed about on the waves.

These assumptions underlie Enlightened Management Policy. Look into Drucker, Likert, McGregor, Argyris, et al.

1. Assume everyone is to be trusted.

This does not assume that everyone in the world is to be trusted—that no one is to be mistrusted, etc. It definitely assumes the reality of individual differences. It assumes that the people selected for the particular plant are a fairly evolved type of person, relatively mature, relatively healthy, relatively decent. By definition it also assumes good environmental conditions. Better spell these out below.

2. Assume everyone is to be informed as completely as possible of as many facts and truths as possible; i.e., everything relevant to the situation.

There is the clear assumption in enlightened management that people need to know, that knowing is good for them, that the truth, the facts, and honesty tend to be curative, healing, to taste good, to be familiar, etc. See The Need to Know and the Fear of Knowing (93).

3. Assume in all your people the impulse to achieve; assume that they are for good workmanship, are against wasting time and inefficiency, and want to do a good job, etc.

This is the place for a discussion of the Gestalt motivations. Also look up Veblen’s Instinct ...