Generation Blend: Managing Across the Technology Age Gap

Preface xiii

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

Technology as the Locus of Conflict 4

Technology as the Enabler of Potential 8

Why Should We Care about Generational Attitudes Toward Technology? 10

Generation Blend 13

Chapter 2: Changing Workforce, Changing Work 17

The Looming Skills Shortage 18

How Technology Changes Work 27

Disruptive Impacts of Technology 35

Outlook 42

Chapter 3: Understanding the Generations 45

Life Stages and Generations 45

Generational Analysis as a Forecasting Methodology 48

Generation vs. Generalization: A Few Caveats 50

What is a Generational Attitude? 53

Generational Attitudes and Workstyles 56

Outlook 61

Chapter 4: Older Workers: Blending Experience with Technology 63

The Silent Generation 65

Older Boomers 68

Growing Up Pre-Digital 71

Technology Issues Facing Older Workers 75

Why It Matters: Capturing Knowledge 85

Outlook 88

Chapter 5: Younger Workers: With Great Potential Comes Great Expectations 91

Who are the Millennials? 92

Millennials and Technology 96

Millennials in the Workforce 102

Why It Matters: Managed Innovation 120

Outlook 125

Chapter 6: Generation X-ecutive: Leadership from the Outside In 131

Late-Wave Boomers 132

Generation X 135

GenX in the Workforce 140

Midcareer Workers: Technology Created in Their Image 145

Why It Matters: Becoming Leaders 150

Outlook 152

Chapter 7: Reintegrating Older Workers into the Connected Information Workplace 155

The Digital Age Gap 157

Serving the Technology Needs of Older Adults 159

Learning Style of Older Adults 162

First Steps 163

Moving Beyond the Basics 169

Bringing Skills and Experience to the Connected Workplace 172

Becoming Comfortable in the Digital Culture 174

Navigating Unmanaged Information Space 176

Connecting the Generations 182

Keeping Pace with Rapid Change 183

What Other Organizations Can Learn from OATS 185

Outcomes 187

Chapter 8: Ambassadors of the Future: Turning to Younger Workers for Strategic Insights 189

Microsoft and the Future of Work 191

Scenario Planning 193

Following Up: Board of the Future 2005 197

Technology and Society: The Perception Study 200

Refining the Scenarios: Characters and Narratives 203

Forecasts 205

Outcomes 208

Chapter 9: Across the Digital Age Gap 211

Are You Clearly Explaining the Benefits of Technology? 212

Are You Providing a Business Context for Your Technology Policies? 217

Are You Making the Technology Accessible to Different Workstyles? 220

Does Your Organizational Culture Support Your Technology Strategy? 225

Are You Building Bridges, Not Walls? 231

Final Thoughts 237

Acknowledgments 241

Index 245