Generating Y

Sara Al- Thihli

Badriya Al-Hinai

Outline

• Who is GenYES• The importance of Generation Y • What most influences Generation Y?• How to manage Generation Y• Generation Y—why worry?• Projects for developing GenYES.

Who is GenYES

• Generation Y is the generation that was born between circa 1980 - 1994. This range of dates varies from source to source, however for our study we will take that the oldest of Generation Y is currently aged about 27 and the youngest being about 13. On a world wide basis, the use of the term Generation Y seems to be restricted to the Western World

The importance of Generation Y

• A company vision that seeks to make a positive difference in the world...Generation Y has a core need to make a difference and affect the world for the better "Work needs to matter - make it matter"

• A set of shared values that are actually lived….. the company walks its talk!

• Flat organizational hierarchies...Generation Y value abilities and skills more than positions

• Divestment from dictatorial regimes...Generation Y are not well suited to command and control type management

• Valuing the development of people...Generation Y want their work to help them to ful fil their potential and dreams

• Ethical and sustainable operation...Generation Y are highly supportive of CSR

• Affinity groups for shared learning and working....Generation Y love to learn, share knowledge and work in teams

The importance of Generation Y

• The importance of Generation Y in the workforce – The demographics show that the Generation Y are a

prominent section of the workforce - currently 20% of the workforce and rising to 40% in 2010. Employers are starting to realise that with the upcoming Baby Boomer shortage through retirement that in the future they have no choice but to accommodate Generation Y if they want to retain a robust competitive advantage.

– In the next few years, Generation Y workers will be in the position of asking for what they want from their work from their employers.

What most influences Generation Y?

• Peers:– While the Builders’ Generation are most influenced by authority

figures and Boomers– make decisions based on data and facts, post-modern youth are

more likely to make a– decision based on the influence of their own peers. Our research

has further confirmed– that the biggest factor determining the choice a teenager will

make is the experiences of– their core group of 3 to 8 friends. Rather than making

independent decisions based on– core values, they live in a culture encouraging them to embrace

community values, and to– reach consensus.

What most influences Generation Y?

• Pragmatism:– It is understandable that young people today are

less idealistic than generations past due– in part to the media and pop culture that fills their

life. The most popular song of the– 1940’s was Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”

(1942), for the 50’s it was “Rock around the– Clock” (Bill Haley and his Comets, 1955), and the

60’s it was the Beatles’ “I want to hold– your hand” (1963)vi. A quick listen to the music of

choice for Generation Y reveals what

What most influences Generation Y?

– different times they live in. Much is made of the dark lyrics of Eminem and Marilyn

– Manson, but these are just public examples of the popular and pervasive genre. The

– influence of music is second only to the influence of TV and movies in Gen Y culture.

– George Barna has found that when teenagers were asked, “What/who has a lot of

– influence on your thinking and behaviour?” one quarter of the influence on their lives is

– from TV and moviesvii.

What most influences Generation Y?

• Preference:– For previous generations, the modernism mindset ruled and so people grew up

believing– that technology was good and to be trusted, medicine could overcome any

problems– humanity faced, and together we could create a great future. However in these

postmodern– times, technology is often not trusted let alone held up as the answer. AIDS and– other pandemics continue to defy the experts, and the scientific method has

given way to– virtual reality. The concept of absolute and inherent truth has been banished as

truth is– deemed to be relative to one’s own background and understanding. The culture

today– asserts that any philosophy, religion, or practice is as valid as any other as long

as it– doesn’t hurt anyone else, and it is tolerant of the beliefs of others.

How to manage Generation Y

• Listen to them and provide them with feedback• Generation Y want to experience leadership as soon

as possible• Generation Y want to experience leadership as soon

as possible• Get them on the leading edge of what the

organization is doing• Encourage problem solving• Make their work matter • Do not reject Generation Y workers because they

seem difficult to manage

Generation Y—why worry?

• They live online

• They’ve been indulged

• College students embrace new media

• They are more socially conservative.

• They operate at high speed

Projects for developing GenYES .

• bridging the experiences of Generation Y and the Silent Generation using the Internet :– Description of the project– Aims of the project – Likely outcomes – Project Plan