Branson Mo 417

Introduction

The degree of change that the planet has experienced 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 area of life which has not escaped these broad changes is the business world. Modern businesses 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 modern arena would seem alien to businesses of the past.

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

This is partly due to the ever increasing life expectancy of people, particularly in first world nations, which consequently prompts an ever increasing retirement age. Since people work to a later point in their lives, they may remain with the same organisation into their late 60’s or early 70’s, and sometimes as hands- on workers rather than simply sitting at the board.

There is also a demand for a more diverse set of skills in the progressive business surroundings, triggered largely due to the swift development and wide reach of computer technology. Business processes, both internal and external, have been subject to radical changes which require a fresh way of thinking.

Problems

One of the most typical challenges that face a modern enterprise that is operating with a number of different generations in its workforce is related to technology. Computer systems are commonplace in each of our lives nowadays and they form a pivotal piece of the business puzzle. This computing ability can help businesses to run well, but they are only as capable as the people who work them.

There are also generational issues when it comes to outward business factors such as the law. New laws and business best practices are emerging all of the time and important business decision makers need to be aware of any that apply to their business.

Outside of this, there can be communication problems between different generations of worker, psychological limitations of the older personnel in an organisation and the need to satisfy a range of different wants and aspirations to keep an entire workforce happy. In a warehouse environment it is crucial to make use of good industrial shelving from a reputable manufacturer to keep the workforce secure.

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The Generations

The need to manage generations in the workplace may seem like an unneeded task, but the distinctions between the generations of worker that are commonly found in business are worthwhile taking note of. The generations of employee that may be found in today’s business can be split into the following four groups:

Traditionals

Mature, or “traditional”, workers are the oldest that would be found in a modern business 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 business and life in general is one of organisation and obedience. They were expected to make individual sacrifices for the greater good, and whilst this belief was nurtured under the shadow of an international conflict, lots of the older generation still harbour this opinion in modern times.

Since many of the mature generation will hold senior positions within a company their views and opinions will generally carry greater weight than those of younger generations. Their judgements will often be fundamental to the business and shape the future success or failure of the organisation. This disparity between modern thinking and business influence requires management.

Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomer generation includes those born between the end of the war and the mid- 60’s, while there was a general decline in the birth rate around the world. Baby Boomers will be aged between 45 and 65 approximately and are likely to form the vast majority of management roles within a contemporary company.

This generation grew up without much of the oppression and discipline that was commonplace amongst previous generations. They are an aspirational group of people that are very family- oriented. They would be the parents of the traditional “nuclear family”.

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

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 business.

Socially they grew up in extremely demanding times. Careers were an ever more important and defining part of people’s lives and this was made clear to Generation X from a very young age. Many will have worked up through lower and higher education before 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 since 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 collection 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 processes and find hyper- consumerism and aggressive promotion to be second nature.

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The Working Environment

Technology

Everyone is familiar with the gap between the older generations and modern technical equipment. Whether it is a parent struggling 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 is made very apparent when it comes to technology.

In regards to the newer organisation, issues involving technology might have very far reaching implications. Computers are vital to many aspects of business, from managing payroll, to perform core tasks and even providing a channel for promotion. As such, an employee who is not familiar with the technologies being used by a company is likely to find difficulties in many parts of the business. This presents the challenge of managing generations within the work environment.

The same principle can also be applied in the opposite direction. The younger generations may be very comfortable with new technologies and routines, but may lack knowledge of the older systems that still perform many of the important functions of the business.

Physical limitations

There are obvious physical factors that may affect how a successful company manages its workers in regard to age. Elderly generations will by and large by physically inferior to their younger counterparts, and consequently 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 business they work for, and these jobs reward based upon knowledge and experience rather than physical capability.

Modern ailments

Modern companies are faced with physical conditions that companies of the past would not have had to face. Complaints such as RSI, or repetitive strain injury, have become more frequent since the widespread introduction and use of personal computer keyboards.

The desk environment itself can create a number of problems if the ergonomics of any specific workstation are not good. Back problems and joint problems can develop after long intervals of sitting incorrectly, and long periods of exposure to computer screens can contribute to long- term eye impairment. Studies are on- going to look into the full scale of the impact of the contemporary place of work on the human body.

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Solutions

The management of generations in the workplace has received more exposure over recent years and many additional companies have been made aware of the benefit of good generational management. This has spawned a number of new ideas and practices that are in one way or another aimed at developing the working rapport between the business and its workers, no matter how old they may be.

If there are specific jobs within your business that are most appropriate for a particular generation then it is often beneficial to only use members of that generation to carry out the job. This kind of specialisation demands good organisational management. It will also be necessary to pass the knowledge on from generation to generation when your workforce ages.

There are a number of ways in which your company 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 helpful information that can be obtained from these events can be of special benefit to your organisation.

There are also a lot of resources available on the Internet that discuss the matter in greater detail, and draw together a range of different ideas for tackling various situations. Every company has individual needs and a unique workforce so it may take time before you find the correct management method for your organisation.

If setting your own managers the task of learning about generations within the workplace does not seem appropriate there are many business consultants that now incorporate the idea of generational management into their practice. Using their services could be the most prudent way to address your corporate circumstances.

Conclusion

Different generations of employee can find it difficult 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 issues of manners and etiquette.

Each generation is also motivated by different factors, and have come from various social upbringings. It will rarely be the case that one solution can be applied across numerous generations but it is also important to make sure that your business does not micro- manage the different age groups working for it.

Modern businesses have a varied range of skills requirements and these requirements 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 discovering a balance between the generations- utilising the advantages, mitigating the weaknesses and motivating accordingly - through informed and empathetic direction.