Thought of the Day - Autocracy is the new Empowerment?

In the last century there has been a shift from Autocracy to Empowerment in management styles and it could be argued that some companies are reaching the extreme end of employee empowerment (Semco [Maverick], St Lukes [Open Minds] and WL Gore) so where do we go from here?

Is the future the logical conclusion of empowerment and what Charles Handy predicts, where people will primarily be self-employed and come together to work on projects? Everyone becomes their own boss.

Or as with technology, will Apple lead the way full circle back to Autocracy again? One leader of the company controls all through fear and intimidation. If a company as creative as Apple can work and thrive under autocratic management then surely others can too.

Idea from:
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-04/bz_apple?currentPage=1