The Generation Gap in Modern Business

Introduction

The degree of change that the planet has seasoned over the past 50 years is a staggeringly high amount, and the pace at which many of these changes have come about is no less impressive.

One part of life which has not escaped these vast changes is the business domain. Modern companies may operate within the same fundamental principles of profitability that have governed business since it began, but many of the traits of a successful organisation trading in the contemporary world would seem alien to businesses of the past.

An interesting problem that modern companies face is how to handle the different generations of individuals who make up their staff.

This is partially due to the increasing life expectancy of humans, particularly in first world nations, which in turn prompts an ever increasing retirement age. As people work to a later point in their lives, they may stay with the same company into their late 60′s or early 70′s, and sometimes as hands- on workers rather than merely sitting on the board.

There is also a need for a more diverse set of skills in the progressive business climate, triggered largely due to the quick development and wide reach of computer technology. Corporate processes, both internal and external, have been subject to significant changes which require a new way of thinking. These new ways of thinking are most commonly found within the younger working age group.

Problems

One of the most common problems that face a modern business that is working with a number of different generations in its workforce is related to technology. Computer systems are commonplace in our lives these days and they form a vital piece of the corporate puzzle. This computing power can help businesses to run more efficiently, but they are only as capable as the people who operate them.

There are also generational problems when it comes to external business factors such as the law. New laws and corporate best practices are emerging all of the time and important business decision makers must be aware of any that apply to their business. This can be said of sales and promotional options that have come forth with the rise of the World Wide Web.

Beyond this, there can be problems with communication between different generations of worker, psychological limitations of the older personnel in an organisation and the need to satisfy a range of different needs and aspirations to keep an entire workforce satisfied. In a warehouse environment it is crucial to use really good industrial shelving by a reputable manufacturer to keep the workforce safe.

The best distribution businesses in the land utilise industrial shelving for storage and organisational purposes.

The Generations

The need to handle generations in the work environment may seem like an unneeded task, but the differences between the generations of worker that are often found in business are worth taking note of. The generations of employee that may be found in a modern business can be separated into the following four groups:

Traditionals

Mature, or “traditional”, workers are the oldest that would be found in a modern corporate environment. They’re the people who were born before the Second World War, and will be in their late 60′s or early 70′s.

Their approach to industry and life in general is one of organisation and obedience. They were expected to make individual sacrifices for the greater good, and while this belief was nurtured under the shadow of a global conflict, lots of the older generation still harbour this opinion in modern times.

Since many of the mature generation will hold senior ranks within a business their views and beliefs will generally carry more weight than those of younger generations. Their decisions will often be fundamental to the business and sculpt the future success or failure of the organisation.

Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomer generation includes those born between the end of the war and the mid- 60′s, when there was a general down turn in the birth rate around the world. Baby Boomers will be aged between 45 and 65 approximately and probably form the vast majority of management jobs within a contemporary company.

This generation grew up without much of the oppression and discipline that was more normal amongst previous generations. They are an aspirational group of people that are very family- oriented.

When it comes to the workplace, this group of workers will often be able to grasp the bigger picture whilst still maintaining a grasp on modern developments in terms of technologies and business procedures. Their family- oriented character tends to see them working well in teams, although it is often observed that they are not comfortable when taking criticism(no matter how helpful) , and they are not good at providing feedback to other employees. These communication issues can become very disruptive in a corporate environment.

Generation X

Members of Generation X were born between the mid- 60′s and the late- 70′s. They will be currently aged between 30 and 45 and will be spread amongst the various levels of management within a modern company.

Socially they grew up in very stressful times. Careers were an ever more important and defining part of people’s lives and this was pointed out to Generation X from a very early age. Many will have worked up through lower and higher education prior to working their way up within one or maybe two companies.

Therefore, they are often very good at problem solving and meeting short- term objectives but may struggle to grasp how their contribution affects the big picture. They will be motivated by financial benefits rather than a sense of duty because they feel they have paid their dues through a life of study and work. Generation X need close management to ensure their efficient contribution to the company.

Generation NeXt

This generation were born since 1980 and are the youngest group of people currently at work. They have borne witness to a changing social environment where being an extravert is seldom frowned upon. They are most open to radical concepts and procedures and find hyper- consumerism and relatively competitive promotion to be second nature.

The smooth day to day running of a company can often depend on uninteresting components akin to storage bins which might be overlooked too frequently because they are mundane.

The Working Environment

Technology

We are all familiar with the gap between the older generations and modern technological equipment. Whether it is a parent only just coping to operate a new mobile phone, or a grandparent being genuinely confused about what the Internet is, the void between the old and the new becomes very apparent when it comes to technology.

In regards to the newer organisation, problems involving technology can have very far reaching consequences. Computers are vital to many aspects of business, from managing payroll, to perform core tasks and even providing a route for marketing. As such, an employee who’s not familiar with the systems being used by an organisation is likely to find problems in many areas of the corporation. This introduces the challenge of managing generations in the workplace.

The same principle can also be applied in reverse. The younger generations might be very comfortable with emerging technologies and practices, but may lack knowledge of the other systems that still carry out many of the important functions of the organisation.

Physical limitations

There are obvious physical factors that may influence how a successful company manages its workforce in regard to age. Older generations will by and large by physically inferior to their younger counterparts, and as such they will be less suited to roles that require physical exertions.

Fortunately, most of the older generations of employee will have advanced to senior levels of management within the organisation they work for, and these jobs reward based upon understanding and experience rather than physical capability. It is nevertheless important to make sure that proper support is given to any employee who struggles with the physical side of their job.

Modern ailments

Modern companies are faced with physical problems that businesses of the past would not have had to face. Complaints such as RSI, or repetitive strain injury, have become much more common since the widespread launch and use of computer keyboards.

The desk setting itself can create a number of problems if the ergonomics of any particular workstation are not great. Back problems and joint problems can develop after long periods of sitting incorrectly, and long periods of exposure to computer screens can contribute to long- term eye impairment. Tests are on- going to look into the full scale of the impact of the contemporary workplace on the human body.

Businesses that wish to be successful often profit by new office furniture since aesthetics promote a powerful image of the company.

Solutions

The control of generations in the workplace has obtained greater exposure over recent years and many additional companies have been made aware of the benefit of effective generational management. This has spawned several new ideas and routines that are in one way or another aimed at improving the working rapport between the business and its workers, no matter how old they are.

If there are particular jobs within your business that are best suited to a particular generation then it is often beneficial to only get members of that generation to perform the task. This kind of specialisation demands good organisational management.

There are a number of ways in which your business can learn about managing several generations of staff. Seminars dedicated to the subject have become a more common event in recent times, and the amount of practical information that can be obtained from these occasions can be of special benefit to an organisation.

There are also many resources available on the Internet that discuss the matter in greater detail, and draw together a range of different ideas for tackling various scenarios.

If setting your own managers the job of learning about generations within the office does not seem appropriate there are many business gurus that now incorporate the idea of generational management into their practice. Utilising their services could be the most recommended method to address your corporate situation.

Conclusion

Different generations of worker can find that it is hard to work together. They have grown up in distinct times and learnt about a planet that has been continually changing. There are not simply concerns when it comes to the language used for communication, but matters of manners and etiquette.

Each generation is also motivated by different things, and have come from various social upbringings. It will rarely be the case that one solution can be applied across a multitude of generations but it is also crucial that you make sure that your business does not micro- manage different age groups working for it. The business must do what is optimum for its own success.

Modern organisations have a varied range of skills requirements and these needs simply cannot be fulfilled by just one of the generations discussed on this page. As is so frequently the case, the route to success depends upon finding a balance between the generations- employing the strengths, mitigating the weaknesses and encouraging accordingly – through educated and empathetic management.

More Articles Here;

February 8, 2010 · Filed under General

Leave a Comment