Thursday, October 9, 2008
The College Student's Guide to the New Millennium
"The College Student's Guide to the New Millennium"
At CEC Associates, we focus on workplace issues. Recently we wrote about generational differences (see our blog, "It's All About Engagement," December 6, 2007), especially as they arise in the workplace between "Baby Boomer" bosses and "Millennial" new/recent hires.
We have been working from Cam Marston's "Motivating the "What's In It for Me" Workforce: Manage Across the Generational Divide and Increase Profits.” Marston (and others), delineates the generations as:
· Matures: born before 1946 (including "Lost" Generation, 1883-1900; "Greatest," 1901-1924; "Silent," 1925-1945)
· Baby Boomers: 1946-1964
· Generation X: 1965-1981
· Millennials: 1982-2000
Many sociologists believe that the "Millennials" are faced with critical realities and issues that were not present for earlier generations. The differences between the serial generations of Americans are significant, and we all, whether from earlier generations or the Generation Millennials themselves, really need to understand the differences to develop the compatibility required for productive harmony. The difficulty, of course, is defining who the Millennials are and in what respects they are different from foregoing generations.
Fortuitously, as relevant ideas are want to happen, we became aware of an elegantly written article by Emma Raviv that made, for us, the intellectual connection we needed. Raviv's article, "Welcome to Your World: The College Student's Guide to the New Millennium," explores the specific themes that focus on the consequential problems our youths and college students face. Raviv explores the themes of science and technology, sex and gender in the new world, globalization, war on terror, and racial politics.
Simply reading the issues makes it clear that the generational differences are significant and need to be taken into account as we go about managing the emerging workforce. It should be noted that Raviv doesn't develop her thesis in terms of the workforce; that is our twist to the information she advances.
Click here to view the Raviv article. What are your thoughts on generational differences? Do you agree with Raviv's theses?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I love what Raviv did for herself and her peers.
There is hope. Vote for Obama!!
I too fail to remember past events with date specificity, but as I mature (that's right get old), one thing becomes very clear. Each generation has givers and takers. I am grateful that Emma Raviv and others like her have chosen to give rather than simply receive. My tendency is to believe that the Millennials are generally filled with entitlement. In this case, it's pleasant to be reminded that generalizations are often incorrect.
Our differences are purely generational....they values related. I am not any of the prejudices or misrepresntations that follow young people tody...I don't have a tatoo or pierced body part...I love to work
I find the generational gaps no more than repeats...although I sure would like to see more Hippies in the world today
College students are much more with it, much more concerned about important issues, and much more conscientious than most people think. I finished college not long ago, and frankly, I think some older people, particularly older people in the Republican Party, are those Americans we should all be concerned about. They would never have considered the "College Students Guide" as written by Raviv. Chances are she's a Democrat. I'd like to meet her.
I think this is an excellent representation of how to view different generations. A key for me is also "who raised you." If raised by "matures" then you may actually skip the generation gap if you're supposed to be a generation xer.
Post a Comment