Abu Dhabi – MENA Herald: INSEAD Emerging MarketsInstitute recently announced the release ofBrave New Workplace, the first of threenew Generations Series eBooks, in collaboration withUniversum, The HEAD Foundation and MIT Leadership Centre.
As organisations seek to optimise the work environment andpolicies formultigenerational workforces, it's important to explore whether generationaldifferences are actually relevant. Focusing on the behaviours and attitudes of Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z, Brave New Workplaceexplores how these threegenerations are reshaping the nature of work and workplace culture.
Growing up digital, say some, has so influenced younger generations that it somehow givesthem a permanently different outlook than their older peers. Gen X calls Gen Y the Peter PanGeneration, saying they cling to childhood even as adults. While millennials characterise theirGen X peers as nihilistic and disdainful. Neither has fully formed their opinions about Gen Z,who are on the cusp of entering the workforce.
“Regardless of opinion about the members of this age group, the inclusion of Gen Z in to thelabour market will initiate a new era in workplace culture, their presence will disrupt the natureof work as we know it today and therefore understanding the new multigenerational workforcemust not be treated as an afterthought” said Universum CEO, Petter Nylander. He continued“Gen Z are set to account for around 20% of the adult workforce by 2020, knowing how toharmonise and steer a workplace that includes these three generations should be a top priorityfor any employer.”
The research questions these generalisations. Are younger generations truly sodifferent? Or is it possible that as they age and gain experience at work, they begin to behave alot like their older peers? Based on a survey of over 18,000 students and professionals from 19countries – spanning Gen Xers who’ve been in the workplace for two decades to Gen Zstudents – we can now share data about preferred work styles, leadership qualities, and hopesand fears about future careers.
“Today’s workplace is an interesting assortment of multigenerational values, approaches to technology, leadership styles and workplace preferences. Through this global study spanning the three generations, we seek to understand how each group can best be motivated, managed, led and encouraged to lead, for optimal results” said Henrik Bresman, Associate Professor of Organisational Behavior; Academic Director, INSEAD Global Leadership Centre; Senior Advisor, The HEAD Foundation.
He continued “This study shows that as far as the need to identify with a company’s culture and values, there is no perceptible difference between the three generations. On the other hand, in terms of whether they have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook towards their work, there is a clear generational divide”.
Vinika D. Rao, Executive Director of INSEAD Emerging Markets Institute, added “One dimension that demonstrates both a clear generational divide as well as a geographical one is the aspect of challenges that women face at work. Organisations therefore need to avoid over-generalisations such as blanket initiatives targeting women. Managing a multigenerational, diverse workforce entails a careful study of how workplace measures are perceived by different employees”.
Workplace Culture, Technology and Leadership
As part of this year’s Generations series we are delighted that we can follow up Brave New Workplace and our collaboration to release two more eBooks. Focusing on the topics of technology and leadership, these eBooks will be released in the coming months and include research that not only offers insights about the preferences and values of individual generations, but also point to how employers can integrate and manage a multigenerational workforce. For more information please visit: www.universumglobal.com/genxyz.