TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
Y THEORY [6 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2017-02-21
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Management Theory
- Industrial and Economic Psychology
- Labour Relations
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- theory Y
1, record 1, English, theory%20Y
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- Theory Y 2, record 1, English, Theory%20Y
correct
- Y theory 3, record 1, English, Y%20theory
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Managerial belief that subordinates are people who like their work, are creative, and want additional responsibilities; as a result, Theory Y managers use the democratic managerial approach. 4, record 1, English, - theory%20Y
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Physical and mental effort at work is as normal as it is at rest and at play. Man will control and direct himself in order to reach shared objectives, meaning that external control and threats are not the only way of ensuring effort. Commitment to objectives goes hand in hand with the rewards obtained upon reaching them. The average person can learn not only to accept, but also to seek greater responsibility. The capacity for imagination and creativity is widely spread within the population. In the modern industrial world, the intellectual potential of the average person is only partially used. 5, record 1, English, - theory%20Y
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Theory Y : term and definition reproduced from the CAPITAL Business Dictionary with the permission of LID Editorial Empresarial. 6, record 1, English, - theory%20Y
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Théories de la gestion
- Psychologie industrielle et économique
- Relations du travail
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- théorie Y
1, record 1, French, th%C3%A9orie%20Y
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Théorie affirmant que l'employé est fondamentalement motivé et que le rôle de la direction se limite à créer les conditions nécessaires à l'expression de sa créativité. 2, record 1, French, - th%C3%A9orie%20Y
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] McGregor propose une théorie appuyée sur des hypothèses plus en rapport avec la nature des hommes et avec leurs motivations, la théorie Y. Elle se fonde sur les hypothèses suivantes : a) La direction est responsable de l'organisation des ressources de l'entreprise [...] afin de réaliser ses fins économiques [...] b) Les hommes ne sont pas, par nature, passifs, et opposés aux buts et aux objectifs de l'entreprise; c) La motivation, la faculté de se développer, l'acceptation et la recherche de responsabilités sont des caractéristiques humaines; d) L'imagination, l'ingéniosité, la créativité sont des qualités répandues; e) La première tâche de la direction est donc de créer les conditions et de mettre en œuvre les méthodes de travail qui permettent aux individus de mieux atteindre leurs fins propres tout en orientant leurs efforts vers les objectifs de l'entreprise (fusion). 3, record 1, French, - th%C3%A9orie%20Y
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Teorías de la gestión
- Psicología económica e industrial
- Relaciones laborales
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- teoría Y
1, record 1, Spanish, teor%C3%ADa%20Y
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Conjunto de hipótesis propuestas por McGregor por oposición a su teoría X, que considera corroboradas por los últimos estudios y que aseguran una mayor motivación de los subordinados. Las hipótesis son las siguientes: el esfuerzo físico y mental en el trabajo es tan normal como en el juego o el descanso; el hombre se autocontrolará y se autodirigirá para conseguir objetivos que comparte, por lo que el control externo y las amenazas no son la única forma de lograr esfuerzos; el compromiso con los objetivos es función de las recompensas asociadas con su logro; el hombre medio puede aprender no sólo a aceptar, sino a buscar mayor responsabilidad; la capacidad de imaginación y creatividad está ampliamente distribuida entre la población; en la vida industrial moderna el potencial intelectual del hombre medio está sólo parcialmente utilizado. 2, record 1, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20Y
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
[Según] la Ortografía académica, los nombres de las teorías científicas se escriben con minúscula: modelo estándar, teoría de la gran unificación, teoría de cuerdas, teoría de la relatividad. 3, record 1, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20Y
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Teoría Y: término y definición extraídos del CAPITAL Business Dictionary con la autorización de LID Editorial Empresarial. 4, record 1, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20Y
Record 2 - internal organization data 2013-08-16
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Management Theory
- Industrial and Economic Psychology
- Labour Relations
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- theory X
1, record 2, English, theory%20X
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- Theory X 2, record 2, English, Theory%20X
correct
- X theory 3, record 2, English, X%20theory
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Set of hypotheses on the subject of human behaviour that, in the opinion of McGregor, characterise bad managers. These are : the average man avoids work if he can because he does not like it. The majority of people need to be controlled and threatened with punishment before they make an adequate effort. The average person prefers to be lead, avoids responsibility, is not ambitious enough and prefers security. The opposite is the Y Theory, also explained by Douglas McGregor in his book "The Human Side of Enterprise"(1960). 4, record 2, English, - theory%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Douglas McGregor ... believed that much of the failure of the human relations approach as it was actually applied in industry stemmed from the fact that most managers worked on what he called "Theory X" ... 5, record 2, English, - theory%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 CONT
Managerial belief that subordinates dislike their work, are lazy, and need to be directed; as a result, Theory X managers use the autocratic managerial approach. 6, record 2, English, - theory%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Theory X: term and definition reproduced from the CAPITAL Business Dictionary with the permission of LID Editorial Empresarial. 7, record 2, English, - theory%20X
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Théories de la gestion
- Psychologie industrielle et économique
- Relations du travail
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- théorie X
1, record 2, French, th%C3%A9orie%20X
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Théorie affirmant que l'employé est fondamentalement passif et que c'est à la direction d'orienter ses efforts. 2, record 2, French, - th%C3%A9orie%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Douglas McGregor, en 1960, a proposé une analyse de deux types de direction sous le nom de «théorie X» et de «théorie Y» [...] La théorie X s'appuie sur trois hypothèses fondamentales : a) la direction est responsable de l'organisation des ressources de l'entreprise [...] afin de réaliser ses fins économiques. b) En ce qui concerne les hommes, la direction oriente leurs efforts, les motive, contrôle leurs actions, modifie leurs attitudes afin de les adapter aux besoins de l'entreprise. c) Sans cette intervention de la direction, les individus restent passifs, vis-à-vis des besoins de l'entreprise. Les employés doivent être convaincus, récompensés, punis, contraints, contrôlés, si l'on veut lutter contre leur aversion innée pour le travail. 3, record 2, French, - th%C3%A9orie%20X
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Teorías de la gestión
- Psicología económica e industrial
- Relaciones laborales
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- teoría X
1, record 2, Spanish, teor%C3%ADa%20X
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Conjunto de hipótesis sobre el comportamiento humano que, en opinión de McGregor, caracterizan a los malos directores. Son las siguientes: el hombre medio evita trabajar si puede, porque no le gusta; la mayoría de la gente debe ser controlada y amenazada con castigos para que se esfuerce adecuadamente; el hombre medio prefiere ser dirigido, evita la responsabilidad, no es demasiado ambicioso y prefiere la seguridad. Su opuesto es la teoría Y, explicadas ambas por Douglas McGregor en su obra "The Human Side of Enterprise" (1960). 2, record 2, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
[Según] la Ortografía académica, los nombres de las teorías científicas se escriben con minúscula: modelo estándar, teoría de la gran unificación, teoría de cuerdas, teoría de la relatividad. 3, record 2, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20X
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Teoría X: término y definición extraídos del CAPITAL Business Dictionary con la autorización de LID Editorial Empresarial. 4, record 2, Spanish, - teor%C3%ADa%20X
Record 3 - internal organization data 2005-03-30
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Economic Doctrines, Systems and Policies
- Pricing Theory
- Econometrics
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- Cambridge equation
1, record 3, English, Cambridge%20equation
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- Cambridge cash balance equation 2, record 3, English, Cambridge%20cash%20balance%20equation
correct
- cash balance equation 2, record 3, English, cash%20balance%20equation
correct
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Md=kPY where the demand for money is a function of nominal income, i. e. the P level times real income Y, and where k is the assumed stable or constant proportion of nominal income held as cash. Given that k was treated as a constant and the money supply M was exogenously determined by the monetary authority, the Cambridge equation could be expressed as a theory of nominal income. 3, record 3, English, - Cambridge%20equation
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Doctrines, systèmes et politiques économiques
- Théorie des prix
- Économétrie
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- équation de Cambridge
1, record 3, French, %C3%A9quation%20de%20Cambridge
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- équation des encaisses 2, record 3, French, %C3%A9quation%20des%20encaisses
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Alfred Marshall de l'école de Cambridge a reformulé la théorie quantitative de la monnaie en théorie de la demande de monnaie par l'introduction de son équation connue sous le nom "d'équation des encaisses" ou "équation de Cambridge" : Md = KPY. La demande de monnaie en termes réels (Md) est proportionnelle au revenu réel (Y). Le coefficient (K) est une propension psychologique, c'est le désir de conserver des encaisses. Md doit être associé aux conditions de l'équilibre du marché monétaire de sorte que : Md = Mo = KPY. Cette équation énonce qu'à court terme, il y a un lien de causalité entre l'offre de monnaie et les prix. 2, record 3, French, - %C3%A9quation%20de%20Cambridge
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Doctrinas, políticas y sistemas económicos
- Teoría de fijación de precios
- Econometría
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- ecuación cuantitativa
1, record 3, Spanish, ecuaci%C3%B3n%20cuantitativa
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
- ecuación de Cambridge 2, record 3, Spanish, ecuaci%C3%B3n%20de%20Cambridge
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Principio teórico de todo el posterior pensamiento monetario. 2, record 3, Spanish, - ecuaci%C3%B3n%20cuantitativa
Record 4 - internal organization data 1999-08-04
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Management Theory
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- authoritarian theory
1, record 4, English, authoritarian%20theory
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
As evidence builds that the Theory Y model of management, built on commitment and involvement, is far more successful in the workplace than the bureaucratic and authoritarian Theory X model, organizations seek new and more specific guidance in how to reinvent themselves into the Theory Y mode. Schuster outlines a step-by-step process to transform management theory into practice--he calls it Strategy A. 1, record 4, English, - authoritarian%20theory
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Théories de la gestion
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- théorie de la gestion autoritaire
1, record 4, French, th%C3%A9orie%20de%20la%20gestion%20autoritaire
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 1981-04-04
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Psychology (General)
- Psychometry and Psychotechnology
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- integrative organization theory
1, record 5, English, integrative%20organization%20theory
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
A theory; sometimes called Theory Y, that the development of self-control is the critical element in a working organization. The classical organization theory is called Theory X. 1, record 5, English, - integrative%20organization%20theory
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Note: Term defined in a specialized glossary of psychometrics. 2, record 5, English, - integrative%20organization%20theory
Record 5, Key term(s)
- theory Y
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Psychologie (Généralités)
- Psychométrie et psychotechnique
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- théorie intégrative de l'organisation 1, record 5, French, th%C3%A9orie%20int%C3%A9grative%20de%20l%27organisation
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 1980-12-11
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Industrial and Economic Psychology
- Management Operations (General)
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- Theory X - Theory Y
1, record 6, English, Theory%20X%20%2D%20Theory%20Y
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
- theory x - theory y 2, record 6, English, theory%20x%20%2D%20theory%20y
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
McGregor's theory that behind every management decision is a set of assumptions that a manager makes about human behavior. The Theory X manager assumes that people are lazy, dislike work, want no responsibility, and prefer to be closely directed. The Theory Y manager assumes(...) [the contrary]. 1, record 6, English, - Theory%20X%20%2D%20Theory%20Y
Record 6, Key term(s)
- theory X
- theory Y
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Psychologie industrielle et économique
- Opérations de la gestion (Généralités)
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- théorie des prémisses décisionnelles 1, record 6, French, th%C3%A9orie%20des%20pr%C3%A9misses%20d%C3%A9cisionnelles
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
- prémisses décisionnelles de McGregor 1, record 6, French, pr%C3%A9misses%20d%C3%A9cisionnelles%20de%20McGregor
- théorie x - théorie y 1, record 6, French, th%C3%A9orie%20x%20%2D%20th%C3%A9orie%20y
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


