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Generations Finding Common Ground
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- 2. The Idea Generationalresearch has become a large body of work that has interesting applications for business and education The idea behind the research is that based on common experiences and cultural norms there are some general behavior patterns and common values that emerge in the population Based on the generational research the United States population has been divided into segments based on birth year groups that range between 10 – 20 years. Not all researchers agree on the exact dates that separate the groups.
- 3. The Generations Veterans– 1925-1942 AKA Silent Generation, Matures, Traditionalists Baby Boomers – 1943-1965 AKA Baby Boomers I and Baby Boomers II Generation X – 1966-1981 AKA Thirteenth, Baby Busters, Lost Generation Generation Y/Z – 1982 – 2005 AKA Millennials, Nexters, Echo Boomers
- 4. Veterans: Common Experiences 1925-1942 Very few remaining in the workforce Those in the workforce have retired and returned due to economic pressures Came of age during the Great Depression or WWII Fought in three wars, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam First generation with broad access to radio, movies, pop culture, cars, and telephones Experienced spike in the divorce rate immediately following WWII with high re- marriage rates First generation with a large percentage of women in non-secretarial or agriculture jobs Created the large middle class, raised their children in a relatively prosperous period
- 5. Veterans: Common Valuesand Attitudes Hard work and perseverance can lead to wealth and stability Strong ties to family and community Strong national identity Greater value placed on conformity to cultural norms Strong racial and gender divides in equality and treatment in community and workplace
- 6. Baby Boomers I& II: Common Experiences 1943-1965 Largest age group in the U.S. population; 80,000,000 Largest age group in the workforce Height of the Civil Rights Movement Assassinations of Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy Grew up with the Cold War, fear of communist infiltration and threat of imminent nuclear war Participated in the Vietnam Conflict Large percentage of activist participation in early adulthood First generation with broad access to television and convenience items, i.e., appliances, pre- prepared foodstuffs, and long distance vacation travel High percentage of marriage rates and two income households Dramatic reduction in the birthrate Experienced mass lay offs in the early 1980’s High divorce rate without correspondingly high remarriage rates Emergence of strong drug culture
- 7. Baby Boomers: CommonValues and Attitudes Even though generation was split over civil rights and Vietnam they had a strong national identity and a desire to actively shape its future Believed hard work, education, and perseverance lead to prosperity Place a high value on individuality Place a high value on the chance to learn new things Weakening of racial and gender segregation High priority on family, community, wealth and social status High emphasis on employer longevity Strong life balance
- 8. Generation X: CommonExperiences 1966-1981 Reagan Era: Large income gaps, high inflation, high unemployment, beginning of U.S. and Middle Eastern conflicts First Iraq War First time in history large percentage of children raised in single parent household due to divorce rates Latch Key Kid era First generation where a college degree did not virtually guarantee good employment War on drugs: Widespread violence related to drug traffic End of the Cold War Fall of the Berlin Wall Came of age as computer technology rapidly evolved and began reshaping society and increasing globalization: beginning of the digital age and widespread access to the internet Perceived chronic time deficency
- 9. Generation X:Common Valuesand Attitudes Generally very independent Wants recognition but often finds it difficult to self promote Believes in the value of hard work Low faith that employers or government provides protection or security High emphasis on employment longevity Often has an Us vs Them relationship with government and employers Places a high value on freedom from oversight and authority General belief in gender and racial equality in spirit if not practice Low emphasis on life balance High emphasis on material wealth and possession for security and self worth Pre 9/11 moderate patriotism: Surge in patriotism post 9/11: Return to moderate to low patriotism Seen as the disillusioned generation Highly isolated due to the loss of close community and lag in using social media for personal connections
- 10. Generation Y/Z: CommonExperiences September 11th and its aftermath Global recession Delays in leaving home, marriage, children, and finding career employment First generation where changing employment or firing is not life changing and traumatic High level of parental support that extends into college and job searches First generation to be raised entirely in the digital age
- 11. Generation Y/Z: CommonValues and Attitudes Near complete acceptance and appreciation of diversity Comfortable with authority Highly collaborative Values collective thinking and input Values shared experiences High emphasis on life balance Low loyalty to employer High value on social responsibility in themselves and the organizations they affiliate with High value on family and community Uses social media to create family and community rather than rely on geography and proximity