A manager who allows his or her subordinates to participate in decision making, who delegates authority to them, and who offers them greater job autonomy and job variety would be classified by Douglas McGregor as a ___ manager.

A) democratic
B) human relations
C) Theory X
D) Theory Y
E) Theory Z

Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y provide two contrasting theories of human motivation in the workplace. Theory X assumes that people are inherently lazy and need to be coerced, controlled, and directed to work towards organizational goals. On the other hand, Theory Y assumes that people are motivated to work and can be self-directed and creative in their jobs. A manager who allows subordinates to participate in decision making, delegates authority, and offers autonomy and variety aligns with the Theory Y perspective. Thus, the correct answer is D) Theory Y.