New Generations on the Workfloor : Diversity Challenges and Opportunities

1. New Generations on the Workfloor: Diversity Challenges and Opportunities The Net-Generation: the dumbest Generation ever 0r Amazing talents shaping our future? Mariëlle van der Leeuw Professional Women Network Aruba November 11, 2011

2. Our civilization is doomed if the unheard actions of our younger generations are allowed to continue Mesopotamian Tablet, 2000 BC So, what is new?

3. Changing Employment Relations: Three Generations at Work • Baby Boomers • After WW II • Building up the nation and economy • Striving for a ‘good living’ • Generation X • Between 1960-1980 • Freedom (in relations, education and religion) • Having choices, pursuing good life • Generation Y • 1980-2000 • Also called the net-generation

4. What is so different about this Generation Y? • The NET generation • seen through eyes of the other generations: • Is called the entitlement generation • Used to ‘instant gratification’ • Hardest critique on this generation • Inability for teamwork • Motivation problems • Work ethics • Unrealistic expectations • (Don Tapscott, 2009)

5. What is so different about this Generation Y? • Clash of the generations: • is not between people as human beings • But between people being an exponent of two different perspectives of • HOW WORK SHOULD WORK

6. What is so different about this Generation Y? • 5 remarkable features of what NET generation appreciate in the workplace • Conditions • Continuous Learning • Challenges • Culture • Charisma

7. What is so different about this Generation Y? • Companies should think how to handle this new generation, who strives for • Collaboration • Having fun at work • Flexibility • Employers can embrace the Netgeners, • by tapping into their culture, absorbing their mindset plus the new tools for collaboration • (Don Tapscott, 2009)

8. Norms of the Net Generation • Freedom • Customization • Supervision • Integrity • Collaboration • Entertainment • Speed • Innovation (Don Tapscott, 2009) • This is what they want, but can they deliver?

9. Capabilities of the Net Generation • Innovative • Engaged • Wired differently • Technology is a given fact • Social Media has a new meaning • Work is life, and life is work • Are there no restrictions or ‘dark sides’?

10. Possible solutions: Meaningful Workplaces Research shows that meaningful workplaces are measured by the quality of interconnected relations between: Employees and management Employees and their job & company Employees and employees but organizational behavior is usually directed to Profits before People

11. Is what they want, what we need? • The changed approach towork • and the multitude of generations • in the workplace • asksforcommon groundsandunderstanding • And what if we don’t ?

12. New Generations on the Workfloor: Diversity Challenges and Opportunities Creative Leadership Room for initiative and real contribution Challenge and Guide Mariëlle van der Leeuw Professional Women Network Aruba November 11, 2011