Although the notion of 'participation' is widely used by writen on management topics it is, in many cases, left undefined, or if a definition is
offered, that definition is very imprecise. McGregor (196, p. 124), for example, after remarking that 'participation is one of the most misunderstoOd ideas that have emerged from the field of human relations', goes on to say that participation consists basically in creating opportlmities under suitable conditions for people to influence decisions affecting them. That influence can vary from a little to a lot .••