Mazlow’s hierarchy and McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y had students looking at management differently, more systematically, in Economics and Management yesterday. The former model, proposed by psychologist Abraham Mazlow in 1943, proposes a hierarchy of needs, from physiological concerns such as food, water and air at the base level, to self-actualisation at the very top.

Theory X and Theory Y present two management styles depending on two opposing theories of human motivation: whilst X assumes that workers have no ambition or intrinsic motivation, and advocates close supervision and external rewards and penalties, Y is optimistic, assuming an intrinsic motivation in workers that allows them to work happily without the incentive of external rewards. Students said that this more psychological approach to management was a new and intriguing one, and that they are excited to learn more in this theme ―which bodes well for the future of global business, we think!

After lessons, students took off to Blenheim Palace, the grand country pile that is at once a family home, mausoleum, and national monument (to the 1704 Battle of Blenheim). It is also known for being the birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill, the legendary wartime British Prime Minister; students took a keen interest in the exhibition of Churchill’s life and times on show in the very suite in which baby Winston came into the world. They were enchanted by the delicate beauty of the butterflies in the Butterfly House, competed to name as many architectural features as they could, and raced each other through the stylistic hedge maze in the pleasure garden.

Back at the Manor, students enjoyed the company of some avian visitors in the birds of prey session. The pygmy falcon elicited many ‘awws’, and the tawny frogmouth owl and blue-winged kookaburra were also much admired. As they day drew to a close, students settled down in the cosy cinema room to watch that feel-good tale of the power of friendship, The BFG.