us army: korea%20%20-%20generational%20differences
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8/14/2019 US Army: Korea%20%20-%20Generational%20Differences
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GenerationalDifferences
Dr. Tracy RussoUniversity of Kansas
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Anchored in time
Beloit’s Mindset 2007
What Berlin Wall?
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Linked to history and society
Four Generations Defining events
Heroes
Memories and memorabilia
Especially Gen Y, the Millennials
Workplace challenges
Managing multiple generations
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Veterans/Builders
Born before 1946 6% of the national workforce
Defining events Pearl Harbor and World War II
The Dust Bowl
The New Deal
Stock Market crashes Social security system established
Korean War
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Icons: people, places, things
Superman and Babe Ruth
Roosevelt and Churchill
Generals Douglas MacArthur and GeorgePatton
The Lone Ranger and Flash Gordon
JukeboxesWet pepper sandwiches
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Baby Boomers
Born 1946 – 1964 45% of the national workforce
Defining events Backyard bomb shelters, McCarthyism Salk vaccine and birth control pills Civil Rights movement
Lunar landings Kennedy, King assassinations Vietnam
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Icons: people, places, things
Ghandi and Martin Luther King
John F. Kennedy and John Glenn
The Ed Sullivan Show Elvis and the Beatles
Slinkies, hula hoops
Leave it to Beaver; Father Knows Best;Dobie Gillis
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Generation X
Born 1964 – 1977 30% of the U.S. workforce
Defining events Watergate
Three Mile Island, energy crises, Exxon Valdez
Outsourcing, offshoring, downsizing
Women’s liberation movement; gay rights
Berlin Wall torn down
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Icons: people, places, things
No heroes
The Brady Bunch and The Simpsons
Miami Vice; The Cosby Show Pet rocks and Cabbage Patch dolls
Punk and heavy metal music; MTV
Compact disks, Walkman, personalcomputers, Windows
Rubics Cube; Smurfs
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Generation Y -- Millennials
Born 1978 – 2000 10% of the U.S. workforce
Defining events 9/11 attacks and Oklahoma City bombing;
Columbine High School massacre
Development of the Internet; dot.com bust
Hubble Space Telescope Spread of AIDS
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Icons: people, places, things
Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Sammy Sosa
Princess Diana, Christopher Reeves, Bill
GatesBarney, Beanie Babies, virtual pets
The Spice Girls, Britney Spears
The X GamesRock and hip-hop music
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Generalized characteristics
PromiscuityHype, clichéPC-nessVulgarityTurnoffs
EqualityCompetenceConsensusHierarchyLeadership
InclusionCommitmentGratificationSacrificeRelations
SavvyProficientChallengedFascinatedTechnology
PoliteUnimpressedLove/hateRespectfulAuthority
Career Career Employer Employer Loyalty
DeterminedBalancedDrivenDedicatedWork ethic
HopefulSkepticalOptimisticPracticalOutlook
Gen YGen XBoomersVeterans
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Earn to
spend
Cautious,
save, save
Buy now,
pay later
Put it awayMoney
Internet
Picture
phones
Cell phones;
call only at
work
Touch-tone
phones; call
anytime
Rotary
phones
One-on-one
Memos
Comm
media
An incredibleexperience
Way to getthere
BirthrightDreamEducation
Merged
families
Latch-key
kids
DisintegratingTraditional
nuclear Family
Realism,confidence
Skepticism,fun
Optimism,Involvement
Respect for authority
Values
Gen YGen XBoomersVeterans
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Millennials
Wanted; protected; worthy
Sheltered
Confident Team-oriented
Pressured
ConventionalWired
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Challenges for Millennials
Growing up coddled
Expectation of regular rewards
Some rewards just for being Parents as safety nets/helicopter parents
Anchored by electronic connection Real-time contact with family and friends
Contact confirms identity, provides emotional
support
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Electronic connection
One foot in the Army, one at home Real-time interaction or short delay
Conflicting identities Response from home about Army role
Changing traditional family and gender sex roles
The pull of the familiar culture Missing contact and support
Feeling left out
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Organizational Challenges
It’s easy to argue that: The generations are inherently different
These differences mean trouble
Easy accusations: Veterans are fossilized
Boomers are narcissistic
Gen X-ers are slackers
Gen Y-ers are even more narcissistic than the
boomers
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Organizational priorities
On the other hand, stereotypically, Veterans – value hard work
Boomers – value loyalty
Gen X – value work-life balance
Gen Y – value innovation and change
These are not necessarily contradictory
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Research shows
Birth year and generation’s place in history
influences worldview
HOWEVER --
The generations value essentially the same
things in the workplace
Differences reflect life stages and experience
more than generations
Individual differences are equally important
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
What the generations want
To trust their supervisors
To have balanced autonomy and support
To avoid threatening changes
To receive feedback
To feel valued To have an opportunity to learn
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Managing the generations:
Focus on the work
Focus on meaning and purpose
Define group mission, tasks, deadlinesDefine individual missions
Maximize uniqueness
Support workplace teaching and learning
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Managing the generations:
Communicate
Make opportunities to communicate
Specify, don’t imply
Choose channel thoughtfully
Draw on expertise and creativity
Provide feedback
Acknowledge individuality
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
Focusing on individuals
Are you and all the other members of your
generation just alike?
Effects of individual background and experiences
Treat others as you would like to be treated
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Generational Differences TRusso 2008
QUESTIONS
or
COMMENTS