The Millenial Bug
One of the recurring themes at E2.0 Last week was the notion of Generational Adoption. It’s the idea that Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y all had an innate relationship with various ways of working, and that these different work habits are a major factor in the adoption of new technology. Jay Hariani at the e2.oh blog has a nice wrap up of the generational adoption meme. Since then, Ross Mayfield, Jeff Nolan, and Larry Dignan have all chimed in, with various cases for and against.
I was lucky enough to share a drink last week with with Rob Salkowitz, Author of Generation Blend: Managing Across the Technology Age Gap, who was presenting at the E2.0 conference. I haven’t read Rob’s book yet, but In the wake of our conversation, I am definitely going to check it out. (Venkat’s Review over on RibbonFarm is also a good read).
The Millenials Are Coming is the new Y2K Bug
I have big problems with using the generational argument to drive adoption of Enterprise 2.0. It feels like another vendor-inspired bogeyman designed to convince companies to buy heaps of software they don’t need. (Install our compliance software or Sarbanes-Oxley will get you!)
The notion that the millennials are going to “demand” some kind of “Facebook” to do their work is just plain rubbish. Think about when you joined the workforce. What exactly did you demand?
When I first left school for the workforce, I wasn’t in a position to demand anything. It took me five years of working within the system before I realized which parts were broken. And it was only because I’d put in the time working within the system that I was trusted to actually influence things a bit.
Generational change happens gradually. There’s not going to be some giant “MySpace Revolution” where “The Kids” take over with their externally hosted collaborative tools. Instead, these people will join the workplace as wide-eyed and impressionable new starters, and they’ll do their best to work within the framework that they are given with the tools that are allocated to them. Then, slowly, their own ideas will become part of the way people work, including their favorite tools and technologies.
Sure, the generational issue is interesting from an anthropological perspective. It’s indicative of a lot of things, most notably progress in society. But as a call to arms for business to rush out and spend cash on some new-fangled social media tool for your enterprise, it leaves a lot to be desired.
(But hey, what would I know. I’m just a disgruntled Gen X’er who has no respect for authority, right?)
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Good points Gordon. I will say that while I didn’t demand anything when I joined the workforce, I did face a learning curve in understanding communication norms that were not my own. Thus my ramp up time was increased. This probably happens for every generation though.
Maybe Enterprise 2.0 can help to shorten the flash bang time for the rising generation?
Hey Nate!
Sure – There’s no doubt that it’s weird when you get to find out what grown-ups actually _do_ all day!
I think we should be embracing these more people centric-tools because they represent better ways of working.
If it happens to fit in with the next generation’s ideas (which it probably will), then that’s more of a bonus than a motivating factor.
Hey Gordon -
Great meeting you as well. When I joined the workforce (in the middle of a lousy economy in 1989), I demanded a paycheck, and felt lucky to get one. That’s one of the big differences in historical circumstances and socialization between GenX and Millennials. I recently interviewed a few young folks for a job at the communications firm that I partner with and was absolutely astonished at the level of expectation of the applicants for an entry-level position. We work in a high-tech industry, so the ability to provide decent technical facilities and connectivity was not really an issue, but it is for a surprising number of firms I talk to.
Hope you enjoy the book!
Yes, you are a disgruntled Gen x’er with no respect for authority, and you are correct as well…and I think a key point is that none of these changes happen instantly, but rather the “Facebook” concepts, etc., becomes influencers instead in this more gradual change. The infrastructures that the E 2.0 concepts are trying to change are generally too rock-solid bedrock for anyone to demand anything immediately. And It’s not going to be cost effective, no matter how good it..or you are, not right away, at least – another reason the change has to be more gradual. But, hey, if it’ll sell!
My only question. How on earth do you guys find enough time to keep up with everything on your website, work, and have a life? I can’t even read it all!
[...] daily lives. How will that translate at work? Gordon over at Infovark pointed out a little reality: [T]hese people will join the workplace as wide-eyed and impressionable new starters, and they’ll [...]
Actually, yes, Millenials *are* demanding that the workplace change to accommodate them. And from what I’ve seen, many companies are peeing their pants with eagerness to accommodate their demands. I have seen new young employees insist that their opinions are every bit as valid as their more experienced colleagues. I have seen 25 year olds express outrage that a boss would tell them how to dress in the office (“it’s insulting for him to tell her that her clothing is not appropriate for a client meeting”). I have seen a 20 year old college student interview for a summer internship in the records department of a law firm, and when told that she would mostly be filing documents, she said, “Don’t you have people to do that?” Uh, yeah, we do, and you’re interviewing for a job as one of them.
Wow. But – I’m guessing she didn’t get the job – You gave it to someone less precocious, didn’t you? Wantonly demanding things is still a pretty terrible negotiation tactic, right?
Although, I got to admit – Sean’s idea for harnessing Gen Y’s “Revolutionary Ideas” – that companies should pay for their beer and girlfriends – struck me as hilarious.
Except I don’t think it was quite meant in that way…
Oh man. Now I’m even less gruntled..