TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE: UNDERSTANDING THE GENERATIONS

ORGB 625 Team 7

Drexel University

Overview Feb. 24, 2010

Traditionalists

Boomers

Gen X

Gen Y

Despite the vast changes in the pace and availability of technology and information that has created a global economy, many in the workplace are unable to break out of traditional patterns and instead sustain an educational environment that has largely remained unchanged.

To better understand thedecision making demands that require an organization to stay compatible with technology, leaders must concentrate on the relationships between people and processes.

Leaders must focus on the human aspect of change.

Technology &Tension in the Workplace

60% of employers say that they are experiencing tension between employees from different generations.

•For many years, those in the Baby Boomer generation have held the reins in most companies

•Gen Xers will be moving into leadership positions rapidly

•60 year olds are working beside 20 year olds

•New college grads are overseeing employees old enough to be their parents

•Boomers expect a phone call or in-person meeting on important topics; younger workers prefer virtual problem solving.

TRADITIONALISTS

What Shaped Them

Depression

Radio

World

Wars

Born 1925-1945Aged 65-8241 million

Their Approach

Go to the Top

Partner with organizations

Stand Fast

Symbols

In the Workplace

Traditional

Financially conservative

Hard working

Faithful to institutions

BOOMERS

Boomers

I

1946-1954

33 mil

II1955-1965

49 mil

What Shaped Them

Their Approach

Pushing, Always pushing

Lead, follow, get out of the way

Compete and stand out

Rebel mentality

Independent

Do what they feel like they have to do

Driven by guilt

Question authority

In the Workplace

• Strong work ethic

•Work longer hours & weekends

• Like hierarchies

• Politically adept in the workplace

• Represent the majority of managers

•Will continue to work after age 65

Boomers as Leaders

Are Boomer leaders really open to new talent & technology?

Are Boomers really responsive or simply holding on?

GENERATION X

What Shaped ThemWhat Shaped Them

Born 1965-1980Aged 34-4441 million

Their Approach

Wegotta

take care of #1.

What’s in it for me?

In the Workplace

•Generation X employees do not plan on staying with one job or company throughout their career

•They will not sacrifice their family for their job

•Have a voracious appetite for technology and learning

Boomers and Xers in the Workplace

Traditional Workplace Security from the

institution

Promotions based on longevity

Loyalty to the organization

Wait to be told what to do

Respect based on position/title

New Generation Workplace

Security from within

Promotions based on performance

Loyalty to the team

Challenge authority

You must earn respect

GENERATION Y

What Shaped Them

Born 1980-2002Aged 16-2870 million

X

• Accept diversity• Pragmatic/

practical• Self-reliant/

individualistic• Reject rules• Killer life- living on

the edge• Mistrust

institutions• PC• Use technology• Multitask• Latch-key kids

Y

• Celebrate diversity

• Optimistic/realistic• Self-inventive/

individualistic• Rewrite the rules• Killer lifestyle-

pursuing luxury• Irrelevance of

institutions• Internet• Assume

technology• Multitask fast• Nurtured

The truth of the matter is ultimately that 76 million Americans will retire over the next two decades. Only 46 million will be arriving to replace them. Most of those new workers will be Gen-Yers. If we are to take workforce planning seriously, therefore, we must plan for a workplace in which Baby Boomers leave behind a legacy — open, transparent, collaborative, and technology rich — suitable for the generations who will follow.

Born 1994-2010Aged <1523 million

ReferencesArmour, Stephanie. Generation Y: They’ve arrived at work with a new attitude.

USAToday: November 6, 1005.

Baby Boomers in the Workplace. http://seniors.lovetoknow.com/Baby_Boomers_in_the_Workplace

Baby Boom Generation. http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Boom_ Generation

Generation X. http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation _X

Generation Y. http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation Y

Generation Z. http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation _Z

Greenberg E. (2008). Generation We. Emeryville, CA: Pachatusan.

Houlihan, Ann. From Baby Boomers to Gen-X: An evolution of leadership style . http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/10518/leadership-style

Leveraging Generational Work styles. http://content.arma.org/imm/IMMJanuary-February2010/IMM0110leveraginggenerationalworkstyles.aspx33

Post-World War II Baby Boom. http:en.wikipedia.org/wikiPost-World_War_II_baby_boom

Silent Generation. http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_generation

The App Gap. http://www.theappgap.com/category/communities

Workplace Generation Gap: Understanding differences among colleagues” Mayo Clinic Working Life Center. July 6, 2005.