| I'm hearing a lot about the generation gap in | | | | |
| business; that young people are not working | | | | Second, during the cost-cutting and |
| well with their elders, and there may very | | | | downsizing years of the 1980's and 1990's |
| well be a lot of truth in this. Following | | | | companies abandoned the mentoring system, |
| World War II, the "Greatest Generation" took | | | | whereby older employees worked with younger |
| over and dominated business like never | | | | people to teach them the business. Without |
| before. The 50's and 60's were the go-go | | | | such mentoring, the younger generation pushed |
| years that propelled the American economy. | | | | the envelope over how business was conducted. |
| During the 1960s' the "Baby Boomers" started | | | | Hence, the rise of individualism and changes |
| to rebel and attacked the taboos of the day. | | | | in the workplace such as dress and social |
| Nonetheless, they eventually acclimated into | | | | attitudes. |
| the corporate cultures and learned from their | | | | |
| elders. But a generational split occurred | | | | Interestingly, mentoring is starting to |
| during the 1980's and 90's, and I attribute | | | | experience a resurgence as companies find it |
| it to two reasons: | | | | to be an effective approach for developing |
| | | | employees and promoting teamwork. Mentoring |
| First, when the PC was introduced in the | | | | is a good approach for helping the younger |
| 1980's a new generation of younger workers | | | | people make the transition into the corporate |
| were introduced to program and maintain them, | | | | culture and ultimately take over the |
| A split then occurred in the Information | | | | business. It's natural and should be |
| Technology field whereby the "old guys" took | | | | encouraged. Actually, we have had progressive |
| care of the mainframes and the "young guys" | | | | classes of workers for literally thousands of |
| stood in the opposing camp. Both thought they | | | | years, e.g.; apprentices, intermediaries, and |
| were right and wouldn't cooperate, hence the | | | | master craftsmen. |
| split. Ironically, both groups were right as | | | | |
| we needed both technologies. But management | | | | The one good thing resulting from the latest |
| didn't see this and allowed the division to | | | | talk of generation gaps in business is that |
| grow and fester. This carried over into other | | | | it is forcing companies to rethink social |
| parts of the work force where new attitudes | | | | attitudes in the workplace. Such discussion |
| challenged older and more established ones. | | | | is inevitable as companies have to learn to |
| In other words, technology played a | | | | work as a team as opposed to a group of |
| significant role in the split. | | | | individuals. |