Another Generation Y (Generation Next) in the workforce has been written. This time the article is at Infoworld and titled, The Generation Gap Challenges IT Managers.
The gap is widening, with more workers stacked at both ends of the age spectrum. There are approximately 80 million Baby Boomers, those born roughly between the years of 1946 and 1964, and 70 million in Generation Y, born 1978 through the present, but only 60 million in the middle in Generation X, those born 1965 to 1977.
That creates a cultural divide, as workers of different ages will generally hold different views of technology use and adoption.
To be honest, I still like my old paper on the subject, The New Workforce.
Why are the generational differences in the workforce so interesting to me? I think perhaps it is because the change in work culture that a younger generation brings is not only an organizational challenge, it's a challenge to me personally. For so long, I and other Generation Xers were the "new guys" and the cause for cultural change. It's hard to let go of that role and let a new generation lead in the change. More importantly, I'm not sure I want to give up that role without a real fight.