A new generation of young leaders is entering the higher education leadership workforce. This generation is known as digital natives. They are also known as millennials or the net generation (Nikravan, 2011). For the purpose of this research, they will be identified as digital natives. Digital natives are most often characterized by their age and as the generation that has experienced the total infusion of technology since birth (Prensky, 2005). Digital natives’ leadership characteristics can be defined as optimistic, team-oriented, and able to multitask (Prensky, 2005). There are three older generations that will be discussed that are currently serving in leadership capacities inclusive of educational entities in the workforce today. …show more content…
In many cases, leaders are accountable for transformation in an organization. Leader-follower dynamics should be explored from the two varying viewpoints, digital natives and digital immigrants, to further understand the preferences of leadership styles in higher education. To further grasp the effectiveness of leaders based upon the perception of its followers, the evolution of leadership styles should be explored. Recent leadership concepts including transformational, charismatic, transactional, and Theory X and Theory Y facilitates an investigation of leader-follower associations. Robert Blake and Jane Mouton’s Managerial Grid model of leadership, based on Theory Y, will expound upon consideration referred to behavior reflecting respect for subordinates’ ideas and …show more content…
The difference between digital natives and digital immigrants have made for difficult work conditions in some respects. A few experts in this field of study state that these differences and difficulties stem from generational diversity in the workplace (Dittmann, 2005). The developers of the generational cohort theory affirm that different generations of workers and leaders have different values and behave differently (Sessa, Kabacoff, Deal, & Brown, 2007). Generations are influenced by its specific economic and political issues of its time. Issues like the World War II, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and 9-11 mold and shape leadership styles and generational perspectives of the people who experienced these great happenings. Important social occurrences help to shape a specific generation and how it thinks and behaves (Dittmann, 2007). Currently, work environments and most effective leadership styles require leaders and subordinates from these various generations to work closer and be more connected than ever before (Carucci &Epperson, 2011). Digital immigrants (veterans, babyboomers, and generation xers) across the board in various fields comprehend that their leadership should be based on legacy. In higher education, theses digital immigrant leaders believe that if they remain loyal to an organization or university, then eventually they will
The digital age has skyrocketed in the last couple of years, some were born into it and most witnessed it. These people had to adapt and use it to their advantage in the evolving workforce. After time went on, they integrated their methods into their systems and kept old habits. Years later, the kids born into this age started to join in and bring their new habits that were unfamiliar to the current workforce. The article written by Lee Rainie on his Pew-Research webpage in 2006, "Digital Natives Invade the Workspace" analyzes the changes they brought it.
According to Professor Jeffrey Bosworth, in his editorial “Hunting for Hope in Modern America,” he discusses the “screwed” millennial generation and the potential they have to be successful, despite current existing United States problems. Bosworth explains this from three different perspectives: the current issues in America, the positive attributes of the millennial generation, and what the millennial generation should do to succeed. In Bosworth’s opening proposition he elucidates the “[millennial] generation is screwed”. He expounds the millennial generation is predicted to “do worse than the previous generation”.
In “The Tethered Generation” by Kathryn Tyler, Tyler addresses the effects technology has had on Generation Y with their relationship with their parents, professors, and their co-workers. Tyler focuses on the use of the three appeal, ethos, pathos, and logos as methods
The study found Gen Y are tech savvy but not great team player, Gen X are entrepreneurial thinking but rank low on executive presence and boomers are team player and loyal but do not adapt so well (Giang, 2013). 78% of the responders agree member of Gen Y are believed to be the most tech savvy who know how to utilize social media to leverage opportunities. 68% of the responders agree that this young workers are most “enthusiastic” about their job. In contrast, Gen Y scored lowest on being team player, hardworking, and productive part of an organization. More Gen Y were interested in how to get a promotion compared to Gen X or Baby Boomers (Giang, 2013).
Companies will also need to anticipate and assess which new skills and training older employees will require, particularly in the realm of technology where they may feel less comfortable than many of their younger colleagues. The federal workforce is building toward a potential retirement wave in coming years, with more than a third of career federal employees projected to be eligible for collecting their end-of-career benefits by September 2017, compared to just 14 percent at the same time in 2012. The dynamic of this workforce is the wealth of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience that will be walking out the door never to return. Millennials will make up 50 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2020 and 75 percent of the global workforce by 2030. At issue is how to attract and retain
Have you ever thought of reading a guide about how to deal with a certain group of people, at work? Would you read it if it was written by someone with experience in your field? Well, Kathryn Tyler, a Generation X freelance writer with a background in human resources and training, wrote “The Tethered Generation,” which was published on May 2007 in HR Magazine, an article that suggest that human resources professionals should learn how to manage, ahead of time, incoming millennials, us, in the workforce. What would you think, millennials? Tyler is able to reach human resource professionals, the readers of HR Magazine in a way that compels them.
“The Beat (Up) Generation: Millennials’ Attitudes about Work” is an article written by Abby Ellin and published in Psychology Today. It talks about the generation born between 1982 and 2004, how they react to working around the older generation and why they are hated by the older generation. The millennial generation was born during the rise of technology. They can do a lot of work remotely and not have to work as hard because of all the technology they have access to and the boomer generation doesn’t understand it they equate working hard with time and physical work. The boomers feel that millennials are just lazy and have no respect.
This generation no longer have to keep remembering every single material they are learning. Or have to go back to the library and spend hours to find the book they used for an assignment. As Kosil and Marcel say, “We are gradually changing from a nation of callused hands to a nation of agile brains … Insofar as new information technology exercises our minds and provides more information, it has to be improving thinking ability” (Source B). This shows people have technology right between their finger tips which enables them to think beyond just the facts. It is no longer only sticking to the facts.
Julie Hanus wrote the “The Kid in the Corner Office” which made many assumptions about our generation in the workplace. She simply thinks that we are self-centered and generally only think about instant gratification and ourselves. Which she believes makes us near useless in the workplace, because we are afraid of taking risks. She also believes that our generation has become one that skips from job to job in search of more praise from management. Counter to this Hanus states that our generation is loyal to our employers.
Compared to the technology we possessed before 1980, technology today is significantly more advanced in many ways, enabling communication and learning to continue to grow. The use of technology has increased dramatically in our everyday life, but it seems to be negatively affecting the way Millennials think and process information. Mark Bauerlein, an English professor and researcher, declares that all of those under 30 years of age, also known as the Millennials, constitute the dumbest generation of modern history. Neglecting beneficial opportunities that have been handed to them and instead using them for non-educational purposes as well as solely depending on technology to obtain information are main reasons as to why the generation we live in now holds the title of the dumbest generation. Students today have countless privileges and opportunities compared to those of prior generations.
In her essay “In defence of the iGeneration,” Renee Wilson argues that today’s technology has benefitted not only the students, but also the generation as a whole. The advancement in technology allows for change, innovation and creativity that result in one of the best generations yet. Although Wilson generalizes today’s iGeneration, she succeeds in providing a compelling argument. Much of her argument is supported by scientific evidence and personal experiences that demonstrate the ability of the iGeneration to accept change and provide self-actualization. Wilson’s use of generalizations reveals a degree of disconnect between the current iGeneration and previous generations.
ENGL 135: Assignment C - Rhetorical Analysis In the article, “In Defense of the iGeneration”, (Wilson, 2013, p. 273) Renee Wilson argues that people mistakenly stereotype the “iGeneration” (Wilson, 2013, p. 273), comprised of people born in the 1990’s, as lazy, disrespectful, and detrimentally absorbed in technology. She believes the iGeneration form a willing and qualified group prepared to play a productive role in society, only restricted by the older generation’s lack of respect and openness. She argues her case by counter-arguing criticism of the iGeneration, supporting her opinion with experience as a teacher, including articles and examples of students, and use of pathos through tonality and anecdotes; however, she fails to clearly transition between some of her ideas and lacks a solid foundation of facts and statistics.
Implementing training programs where all generations can learn about each other’s differences can help employees understand how and why each generation works. Workshops in which multigenerational workforces can share work experience and mentor each other can assist in creating a sense of community and a supportive environment where employees can be open and share their ideas an collaborate with each other in order to better their organization. Millennials are perceived as being disloyal and quick to search for new employment when they unhappy in their work environments, but due to starting their careers during times of recession, Millennials try to maintain their roles in the workplace to remain financially stable. The main reason for turnover among Millennials is a result of exclusion, slow growth within the workplace, and limited development opportunities. Finding gratification and meaning to their work is important to Millennials so that they can excel and be productive in the workplace that is supportive of their work.
The article “The Me Me Me Generation” by Joel Stein mentions how Millennials are a self-centred generation who have been raised with many participation awards and parents who mistakenly believed that strengthening their self-esteem was they key to success rather than focusing more on strengthening up their character and skills. Stein mentions that the younger generation lives mostly through screens, whether those on phones, iPad’s, or computers, and believes someway that it is entitled to success without experiencing the rough situations in lifetime. Stein also presented studies showing that the incidence of narcissistic personality disorder among Millennials is massive. Stein concludes the article by mentioning that this has not taken him by surprise, because this began with their parents’ generation, the Baby Boomers, or known as the “Me Generation.” Millennials seek to make their own mark on the world.
These generation people feel more pressure than their older colleagues as they don’t prefer to spend more time in the workplace. They can juggle many projects at one time as they are skilled multitasking. So, you have to choose these category people to handle multitasking work. They stay focused in the team work so better to choose these people in teamwork.