Abstract
Eupsychian management was Abraham Maslow’s term for workplaces of creativity, synergy, and continuous learning. His ideas were crystalized while visiting Non-Linear Systems, founded by Andrew Kay. Eupsychian management, a phrase congruent yet distinct from utopian concepts, specifically referred to environments designed for improving the self-fulfillment and psychological health of all its members. Maslow astutely observed that the characteristics of such environments were its general atmosphere for creative pursuit rather than a specific policy or practice. With retrospective hindsight, Maslow’s managerial ideas, once visionary in nature, have been largely integrated into mainstream management theory and practice. However, his desire for less competitive, controlling, and hierarchical workplaces has been frustrated by ever-increasing global competition, fragmentation, and pressure for cost-efficiencies. The lasting impact of Eupsychian ideals may lie in its humanistic clarity. Human beings long for meaning, purpose, and contribution to a more just and regenerative world. The workplace cannot succeed as an island of psychological health separate from broader efforts to bring forth social justice and environmental renewal.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.