The Implications of Widely Available Information on the Generations
Q:
I enjoyed your session.
If you take your age groups and run a line down the middle. This line is “We now know the price of everything via the internet.” We know what everyone’s house cost—car, boat and everything they own is. We can also figure out about how much every one makes.
So now your example you have a promotion with relocation is skewed. I will look up and see exactly what it costs to live there during my thought process. I will also be able to study the community and know every thing about the area in minutes. I think the knowledge of the price of what everything is affecting the economy in a new way. If someone is laid off they will not relocate so quickly to an area that is doing better.
Before the internet we would go for it with confidence and make the best of it. Now we will hesitate and might not risk as much with this new information we have. I am just wondering if you think this knowledge is changing us.
Thanks
Mark
A:
Hi Mark—
Yes, I think you are absolutely right. There’s no doubt that access to widely-available information is changing behavior. One of the key traits I list for members of Generation X is “information savvy.” By this I mean that members of this generation are far less likely to take the word of someone in authority on any topic—they will double-check it through their own channels. This applies to the cost of relocation, as you suggest, and to many other activities in the workplace, including the best way to approach a particular task, the most reputable data, and so on.
Thanks for your comment.
Warmly,
Tammy
Mentoring within Universities
Q:
Hi Tammy,
I came accross your blog in HBR (Give a Gift ....) and really appreciate the tips you provided. I think it will work.
These days I am busy to introduce mentoring to university students, while I found it quite struggling to reach individuals, I approached the top management of a university (my idea is to try one university first than several), then it will be promoted through its career centre. My objective is actually to help as many as individuals (univ. students in this case) to know what they want, a lot of students just enjoying their time at college without having any specific plan on what to do after graduation. It is true for students with high or lower GPA.
Unfortunately mentoring is still not popular and the lecturers and/or university staff members does not have any idea about this. Well, throughout their lives sure they do have informal mentors, but it takes time for me to explain so that they can realise the needs for the students to have strong will and find ways to realise what they want (one of them is by having valuable conversation/relationship with mentors).
Having said that, I am seeking your opinion as now I am a bit confused about what to do to continue with introducing this concept. I am thinking of using social media (FB and/or Twitter) to sell the idea as I have been waiting for quite sometimes for more traditional way of introduction, i.e., through seminar or discussion with this university students, and there is no progress yet.
Any thought is appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Eridani
A:
Dear Eridani,
I very much commend you for the goals of your work.
My suggestion is that you turn your approach “inside-out.” In other words, rather than trying to assign mentors to students, focus on making knowledable people available to the students as needed. Publicize the types of information/ expertise each mentor has to offer and encourage the students to reach out to individuals in areas related to their needs or interests.
Best wishes for success,
Tammy
Presentation from the SHRM Staffing Management Conference 4-10
Q:
Can I please get a summary of your general session address at the Staffing Management Conference and Exposition at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel at Orlando, Florida?
Joyce
A:
Hi Joyce—
I spoke about employee engagement—and the importance of understanding the values your employees care deeply about. The session was based on work that is also described in an HBR article called “What It Means to Work Here”—you can find it at Harvard Business Review’s website.
All the best,
Tammy
Gen X in Latin America
Q:
I belong to an international group within my business unit. I frequently interface with peers in Mexico and Latin America. It seems some of the gen. X folks, mimic the American baby-boomers (despite the uncertainty and corruption in their governments). There seems to be implicit respect in certain institutions (church, gov’t). However, I am not to clear of their family values as it relates to their children’s success or their approach in to the workplace. Any insights would be appreciated relative to this region of the world?
Vince
A:
Hi Vince,
I do think that X’ers in many Latin American countries share some characteristics with U.S. Boomers—particularly the anti-authoritarian views which, as you pointed out, stemmed from the corruption evident in many governments during their formative years. I don’t find that they have respect for government. I do find that they tend to have deep family values.
Here’s a summary I recently wrote on Gen X in Brazil:
The economy continued to struggle in the late 1970’s and 1980’s, resulting in strikes for higher wages. Opposition to authority became more vocal and widespread. Civilians protested to end the military government rule and demand a direct vote. In 1989, the first democratically elected president in 29 years brought free trade and privatization, although the transition was fiscally arduous. This difficult path left members of Generation X risk-adverse, with a strong sense of self-reliance and a strong commitment to their families.
I hope this helps. Best wishes for continued success in your collaboration with peers throughout Latin America.
Warmly,
Tammy
Defining a Value Chain
Q:
What is a value chain?
SOBIN
A:
Hi Sobin—
You can find lots of information on value chains on the web. Here are three sources:
The value chain, also known as value chain analysis, is a concept from business management that was first described and popularized by Michael Porter in his 1985 best-seller, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_chain
The sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value, including the various steps of the supply chain but also additional activities, such as marketing, sales, and service. Term due to Porter (1990) and used by Krugman in slicing up the value chain.
www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/v.html
The sequential set of primary and support activities that an enterprise performs to turn inputs into value-added outputs for its external customers. ...
http://www.ichnet.org/glossary.htm
Hope this helps,
Tammy
