Presentation 1: Strategic Organization Communication

Baby Boomers, Generation X & Generation Y

INTRODUCTION

QUESTION 1

What expectations does each of these generational groups have about life and about organizations?

BABY BOOMERS (1946-1964)

Life

• Concern about health
• Concern about retirement lifestyles
• Seek volunteer opportunities to remain active, use their skills and pursue their interests

Organization

• Money and recognition reward
• Seek collaborative, group decision making

GENERATION X (1965-1982)

Life

• They place a higher priority on personal and family related goals than on their career goals
• Flexible - less committed to one employer and more willing to change jobs 

Organizations

• Adopt work hard/play hard mentality
• Values freedom and responsibility - display a casual disdain for authority and structured work hours.

GENERATION Y/MILLENNIALS (1980-2000)

Life

• They don't live for work, they work to live - they have different priorities
• They are optimistic, assertive, positive and friendly - believe they will be rich
• Expressive, but blunt - values self-expression more than self-control. You can expect them to speak their minds. They don't necessarily have trouble respecting authority, but they won't automatically be impressed by age or title

Organizations

• Techno savvy - confidence and swagger is well-earned when it comes to collecting and sharing information. Access to technology and the freedom to use it in innovative ways holds enormous appeals to Gen Y.
• Multi-taskers - difficult to focus on one thing
• Active learners - seek innovations; want immediate response to learning needs and questions

QUESTION 2

What messages and experiences have contributed to those expectations?

• Baby boomers - Retirement life will help them to start a new chapter in life. This is an opportunity for them to pursue their interests or hobbies since they have more free time.
• Generation X - They believe their adulthood is the time where they must determine the meaning of their lives
• Generation Y - They have the motivation to perform their jobs better with the help of technology, hence, exude confidence.

QUESTION 3

Over what issues are the three groups likely to have conflicts? Why?

• Technology. Because Gen X and Y are more technological savvy compared to the Baby Boomers. Gen X and Y are more likely to be active learners with their jobs as compared to the older generation due to difficulty in keeping up with the technology.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

To which, if any, of the three generational groups do you belong?

• Generation Y

QUESTION 2

How do your expectations and experiences correspond to theirs?

• As for me, my parents are from the Baby Boomer generation and my siblings are from Generation X. So, as I age, I see them working so hard to be better, to fulfill their goals. I was inspired however, I understand that not only our job is important but our personal goals are important too. 

QUESTION 3
Over what issues are you likely to have conflicts with members of the three groups? Why?

• Miss communication. Miss communication is very likely to occur in a workplace. Communication is important to get things done quickly and efficiently. People need to put a lot of effort in getting their job done by communicate with one another. One little mistake might turn your work into a disaster.

QUESTION 4

Are the strategies chosen by Generation Xers appropriate to the situations they face? Generation Yers?

• Generation Xers and Yers are able to work with ease since they are good at handling technology equipment. Therefore, it makes their lives easier to work with one another. 

QUESTION 5

What effects their strategies likely to have on their relationships with their supervisors in traditional firms? With their co-workers? With their subordinates? Why?

• In a workplace, people should treat each other with respect despite their job positions.