Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T13:45:28.187Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

2 - Inappropriate Inferences from Generational Research

from Part I - Introduction to the Changing Nature of Work

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2020

By
David P. Costanza ,
Lisa M. Finkelstein ,
Ruth A. Imose  and
Daniel M. Ravid
Edited by
Brian J. Hoffman ,
Mindy K. Shoss  and
Lauren A. Wegman
Brian J. Hoffman
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
Mindy K. Shoss
Affiliation:
University of Central Florida
Lauren A. Wegman
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
Get access

Summary

While theoretical, analytical, and methodological issues surrounding research on generations and generational differences at work have been thoroughly discussed, one topic that has received far less attention is the extent to which the inferences suggested by this research are appropriate. Therefore, the purpose of this effort is to review the recent-generations literature, identify the commonly represented inferences, and offer a critical review of the appropriateness of each. A qualitative review of the last ten years of published research found four main inferences: (1) organizations should adopt customized HR policies, (2) intergenerational conflict is inevitable, (3) generations should be led differently, and (4) the benefits of capitalizing on generational strengths. These inferences are critiqued using several different lenses including legal, methodological, practice, and theoretical. Our conclusion is that these inferences are not supported by the literature and that organizations should instead focus on broader work and workplace trends.

Keywords

generationsgenerational differencesresearch inferencesmethods/statisticslegal issuesHR policies/practicesleadershipconflict
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of the Changing Nature of Work , pp. 20 - 41
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acar, A. B. (2014). Do intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors differ for Generation X and Generation Y? International Journal of Business and Social Science, 5, 12–20.Google Scholar
Akhavan Sarraf, A. R., Abzari, M., Nasr Isfahani, A., & Fathi, S. (2016). The impact of generational groups on organizational behavior in Iran. Human Systems Management, 35(3), 175–183.Google Scholar
Allen, R. S., Allen, D. E., Karl, K., & White, C. S. (2015). Are millennials really an entitled generation? An investigation into generational equity sensitivity differences. Journal of Business Diversity, 15(2), 14–26.Google Scholar
Anderson, E., Buchko, A. A., & Buchko, K. J. (2016). Giving negative feedback to Millennials. Management Research Review, 39, 692–705.Google Scholar
Baldonado, A. M. (2013). Motivating generation Y and virtual teams. Open Journal of Business and Management, 1(2), 39–44.Google Scholar
Ballone, C. (2007). Consulting your clients to leverage the multi-generational workforce. Journal of Practical Consulting, 2(1), 9–15.Google Scholar
Baran, M. (2014). Mutual mentoring as a tool for managing employees of different generations in the enterprise. Journal of Positive Management, 5(2), 20–29.Google Scholar
Baron, R. A., Byrne, D. R., & Branscombe, N. R. (2009). Social Psychology (12th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.Google Scholar
Becton, J. B., Walker, H. J., & Jones‐Farmer, A. (2014). Generational differences in workplace behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 44(3), 175–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berkup, S. B. (2014). Working with Generations X and Y in Generation Z period: Management of different generations in business life. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5, 218–229.Google Scholar
Boehm, S. A., Kunze, F., & Bruch, H. (2014). Spotlight on age‐diversity climate: The impact of age‐inclusive HR practices on firm‐level outcomes. Personnel Psychology, 67(3), 667–704.Google Scholar
Campbell, S. M., Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2017). Fuzzy but useful constructs: Making sense of the differences between generations. Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 130–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cates, S. V., Cojanu, K. A., & Pettine, S. (2013). Can you lead effectively? An analysis of the leadership styles of four generations of American employees. International Review of Management and Business Research, 2(4), 1025–1041.Google Scholar
Chou, S. Y. (2012). Millennials in the workplace: A conceptual analysis of Millennials’ leadership and followership styles. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 2, 71–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costanza, D. P., Badger, J. M., Fraser, R. L., Severt, J. B., & Gade, P. A. (2012). Generational differences in work-related attitudes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Business and Psychology, 27(4), 375–394.Google Scholar
Costanza, D. P., Darrow, J. B., Yost, A. B., & Severt, J. B. (2017). A review of analytical methods used to study generational differences: Strengths and limitations. Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 149–165.Google Scholar
Costanza, D. P., & Finkelstein, L. M. (2015). Generationally based differences in the workplace: Is there a there there? Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 8(3), 308–323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costanza, D. P., & Finkelstein, L. M. (2017). Generations, age, and the space between: Introduction to the special issue. Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 109–112. doi: 10.1093/workar/wax003.Google Scholar
Crumpacker, M., & Crumpacker, J. M. (2007). Succession planning and generational stereotypes: Should HR consider age-based values and attitudes a relevant factor or a passing fad? Public Personnel Management, 36(4), 349–369.Google Scholar
Czaja, S. J., & Sharit, J. (2009). Aging and work: issues and implications in a changing landscape. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Deal, J. J., Altman, D. G., & Rogelberg, S. G. (2010). Millennials at work: What we know and what we need to do (if anything). Journal of Business and Psychology, 25, 191–199.Google Scholar
De Hauw, S., & De Vos, A. (2010). Millennials’ career perspective and psychological contract expectations: does the recession lead to lowered expectations? Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 293–302.Google Scholar
de Lange, A. H., Kooij, D. T. A. M., & van der Heijen, B. I. J. M. (2015). Human resource management and sustainability at work across the lifespan: An integrative perspective. In Finkelstein, L., Truxillo, D., Fraccaroli, F., and Kanfer, R. (Eds.), Facing the challenges of a multi-age workforce: A use-inspired approach (pp. 50–79). New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Dencker, J. C., Joshi, A., & Martocchio, J. J. (2008). Towards a theoretical framework linking generational memories to workplace attitudes and behaviors. Human Resource Management Review, 18(3), 180–187.Google Scholar
Espinoza, C., & Ukleja, M. (2016). Managing the Millennials: Discover the core competencies for managing today’s workforce. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Festing, M., & Schäfer, L. (2014). Generational challenges to talent management: A framework for talent retention based on the psychological-contract perspective. Journal of World Business, 49(2), 262–271.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, L. M. (2012). Aging and work: Linking our work to practitioner needs. Paper presented at the International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management, Limerick, Ireland. June.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, L. M., Truxillo, D. M., Fraccaroli, F., & Kanfer, R. (2015). An introduction to facing the challenges of a multi-age workforce: A use-inspired approach. In Finkelstein, L., Truxillo, D., Fraccaroli, F., and Kanfer, R. (Eds.), Facing the challenges of a multi-age workforce: A use-inspired approach (pp. 3–22). New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Fogg, P. (2009). When generations collide. Education Digest, 74(6), 25–30.Google Scholar
Giambatista, R. C., Hoover, J. D., & Tribble, L. (2017). Millennials, learning, and development: Managing complexity avoidance and narcissism. Psychologist-Manager Journal, 20(3), 176–193.Google Scholar
Green, D. (2008). Knowledge management for a postmodern workforce: Rethinking leadership styles in the public sector. Journal of Strategic Leadership, 1, 16–24.Google Scholar
Greenwood, R. A., Gibson, J. W., & Murphy, E. F. Jr (2008). An investigation of generational values in the workplace: Divergence, convergence, and implications for leadership. International Leadership Journal, 20, 57–76.Google Scholar
Guillot-Soulez, C., & Soulez, S. (2014). On the heterogeneity of Generation Y job preferences. Employee Relations, 36, 319–332.Google Scholar
Gursoy, D., Maier, T. A., & Chi, C. G. (2008). Generational differences: An examination of work values and generational gaps in the hospitality workforce. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 27(3), 448–458.Google Scholar
Hendricks, J. M., & Cope, V. C. (2013). Generational diversity: What nurse managers need to know. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(3), 717–725.Google Scholar
Hernaus, T., & Pološki Vokic, N. (2014). Work design for different generational cohorts: Determining common and idiosyncratic job characteristics. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 27, 615–641.Google Scholar
Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2000). Millennials rising: The next great generation. New York, NY: Vintage.Google Scholar
Inceoglu, I., Segers, J., & Bartram, D. (2012). Age‐related differences in work motivation. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 85(2), 300–329.Google Scholar
Kelly, C., Elizabeth, F., Bharat, M., & Jitendra, M. (2016). Generation gaps: Changes in the workplace due to differing generational values. Advances in Management, 9(5), 1–8.Google Scholar
Kooij, D. T. A. M., Jansen, P. G. W., Dikkers, J. S. E., & de Lange, A. H. (2014). Managing aging workers: A mixed methods study on bundles of HR practices for aging workers. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25, 2192–2212.Google Scholar
Kowske, B. J., Rasch, R., & Wiley, J. (2010). Millennials’ (lack of) attitude problem: An empirical examination of generational effects on work attitudes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25, 265–279.Google Scholar
Lachman, M. E., & James, J. B. (Eds.) (1997). Multiple paths of midlife development. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Lester, S. W., Standifer, R. L., Schultz, N. J., & Windsor, J. M. (2012). Actual versus perceived generational differences at work: An empirical examination. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 19, 341–354.Google Scholar
Lewicki, R. J., Weiss, S. E., & Lewin, D. (1992). Models of conflict, negotiation and third-party intervention: A review and synthesis. Journal of organizational behavior, 13(3), 209–252.Google Scholar
Lindquist, T. M. (2008). Recruiting the millennium generation: The new CPA. CPA Journal, 78(8), 56.Google Scholar
Lyons, S., & Kuron, L. (2014). Generational differences in the workplace: A review of the evidence and directions for future research. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35(S1), S139–S157.Google Scholar
Lyons, S. T., & Schweitzer, L. (2016). A qualitative exploration of generational identity: Making sense of young and old in the context of today’s workplace. Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 209–224.Google Scholar
Macky, K., Gardner, D., & Forsyth, S. (2008). Generational differences at work: Introduction and overview. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(8), 857–861.Google Scholar
Mannheim, K. (1952). The problem of generations. In Mannheim, K. (Ed.), Essays on the sociology of knowledge (pp. 276–322). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Mhatre, K. H., & Conger, J. A. (2011). Bridging the gap between Gen X and Gen Y. Journal of Leadership Studies, 5(3), 72–76.Google Scholar
McHenry, W. K., & Ash, S. R. (2013). Knowledge management and collaboration: Generation X vs. Generation Y. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4, 78–87.Google Scholar
Parry, E., & Urwin, P. (2011). Generational differences in work values: A review of theory and evidence. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13(1), 79–96.Google Scholar
Parry, E., & Urwin, P. (2017). The evidence base for generational differences: Where do we go from here? Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 140–148.Google Scholar
Perry, E. L., Golom, F. D., & McCarthy, J. A. (2015). Generational differences: Let’s not throw the baby boomer out with the bathwater. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives of Science and Practice, 8, 376–382.Google Scholar
Pondy, L. R. (1967). Organizational conflict: Concepts and models. Administrative Science Quarterly, 296–320.Google Scholar
Rajput, N., Marwah, P., Balli, R., & Gupta, M. (2013). Managing multigenerational workforce: Challenge for millennium managers. International Journal of Marketing and Technology, 3(2), 132–149.Google Scholar
Rudolph, C. W. (2015). A note on the folly of cross-sectional operationalizations of generations. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 8, 362–366. doi: 10.1017/iop.2015.50.Google Scholar
Rudolph, C. W., Rauvola, R. S., & Zacher, H. (2017). Leadership and generations at work: A critical review. Leadership Quarterly, 29(1), 44–57.Google Scholar
Rudolph, C. W., & Zacher, H. (2017). Considering generations from a lifespan developmental perspective. Work, Aging and Retirement, 3(2), 113–129.Google Scholar
Ryder, N. (1965). The cohort as a concept in the study of social change. American Sociological Review, 30(6), 843–861.Google Scholar
Salahuddin, M. M. (2010). Generational differences impact on leadership style and organizational success. Journal of Diversity Management, 5(2), 1–6.Google Scholar
Schofield, C. P., & Honoré, S. (2009). Generation Y and learning. Ashridge Journal, Winter, 26–32.Google Scholar
Sessa, V. I., Kabacoff, R. I., Deal, J., & Brown, H. (2007). Generational differences in leader values and leadership behaviors. Psychologist-Manager Journal, 10, 47–74.Google Scholar
Strauss, W., & Howe, N. (1991). Generations: The history of America’s future, 1584 to 2069. New York, NY: William Morrow & Co.Google Scholar
Thomas, K. M. (2005). Diversity dynamics in the workplace. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.Google Scholar
Thompson, C., & Gregory, J. B. (2012). Managing Millennials: A framework for improving attraction, motivation, and retention. Psychologist-Manager Journal, 15(4), 237–246.Google Scholar
Twenge, J. M. (2010). A review of the empirical evidence on generational differences in work attitudes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 201–210.Google Scholar
Twenge, J. M. (2017). The real truth about generational differences: Millennials are not a myth. Get over it. Psychology Today Blog. May 12.Google Scholar
Twenge, J. M., Campbell, S. M., Hoffman, B. J., & Lance, C. E. (2010). Generational differences in work values: Leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing. Journal of Management, 36(5), 1117–1142.Google Scholar
Twenge, J. M., Carter, N. T., & Campbell, W. K. (2017). Age, time period, and birth cohort differences in self-esteem: Reexamining a cohort-sequential longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112(5), e9–e17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Twenge, J. M., Konrath, S., Foster, J. D., Keith Campbell, W., & Bushman, B. J. (2008). Egos inflating over time: A cross‐temporal meta‐analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality, 76(4), 875–902.Google Scholar
Van de Vliert, E., & De Dreu, C. K. (1994). Optimizing performance by conflict stimulation. International Journal of Conflict Management, 5(3), 211–222.Google Scholar
Warr, P. (2001). Age and work behavior: Physical attributes, cognitive abilities, knowledge, personality traits, and motives. International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 16, 1–36.Google Scholar
Weresh, M. H. (2009). I’ll start walking your way, you start walking mine: Sociological perspectives on professional identity development and influence of generational differences. SCL Review, 61, 337–392.Google Scholar
Williams, M. (2016). Being trusted: How team generational age diversity promotes and undermines trust in cross‐boundary relationships. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(3), 346–373.Google Scholar
Zabel, K. L., Biermeier-Hanson, B. J., Baltes, B. B., Early, B. J., & Shepard, A. (2017). Generational differences in work ethic: Fact or fiction? Journal of Business and Psychology, 32, 301–315.Google Scholar
Zemke, R., Raines, C., & Filipczak, B. (2013). Generations at work: Managing the clash of Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers in the workplace. New York, NY: American Management Association.Google Scholar
Zhu, Y., Yang, H., & Bai, G. (2016). Effect of superior–subordinate intergenerational conflict on job performance of new generation employees. Social Behavior and Personality, 44(9), 1499–1514.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×