Question

List and define the various generations in the workforce today. What characterizes each? How are they different? How are they similar? What are the biggest challenges in managing so many generations? Your essay should be a minimum of 500 words and cite at least 5 academic references.

Answer 1

There are in total 4 generations in workforce today:

1) Baby Bommers : People who were born between 1946-1964

2) Generation X: People who were born between 1965-1976

3) Generation Y: They are also called as millennials born between 1977-1996

4) Generation Z: They are born between 1997-current.

Different generations are characterized by the duration or era they were born in. Their attitude and behaviour is inspired and affected by the era they were born and raised in.

Baby boomers were the first generation which prioritized work over personal life. Baby boomers in generally distrust authority and large systems. Mostly baby boomers are not in workforce anymore due tot retirement age. However, baby boomers if at all are in the system are more open to change than other generations due to born in an era where civil rights movement were in force around the world and change was shaping up the world.

Generation X also called as Slacker generation was responsible for bringing in the work life concept. They absolutely hate authority ands are technological superior since their growth concided with the unprecedented rise in technology from the scratch. They are more independent than other generations.

Generation Y are the millennials of the world. They are taught how to work hard to get the lifestyle they want. Since they were born in the era when the parents pushed their kids for the sports and recreation activities they are very good team player and understand the need of the team. They also have more open attitude towards diversity and inclusion of various communities into the mainstream.They are highly adaptive to change since they know the fast changing world through internet.

Different generations have different outlook and perspective shaped up during the era they were born in. However, they are similar in their basic tenet which is the motivation achieve better for their family and themselves. The driving force behind their hard work and commitment is the desire to have a better lifestyle than they have currently. It is this motivation which similar and common amongst all the generations.

The biggest challenge are as follows:

1) Cohesive Teams: As mentioned earlier, every generation has different attitude to work and preference to technology, hence it becomes difficult to form cohesive teams with members from different generations. It becomes important for the organization to have managers who are in a best position to assign the task to the team members which suits their outlook and perspective in order to gain maximum productivity.

2) Communication: Having different generation in the workforce leads to challenge in communication as well. There are generation like millennials who prefer to use technology like mobile phones. Video call for the meetings where as baby boomers prefer one to one personal interaction and this leads to challenges for the productivity.

3) Values: Different generation have different values, as mentioned earlier baby boomers are committed to work like no other and they expect other generations to be as committed. However, generation x or the millennials they prefer flexible workhours. They value their personal face and doesn’t want to be bothered during their free time.