Strategies to win the generation game with special reference to IT industry

Abstract

The IT Industry is facing a new future in terms of demographics at work: it will soon have five generations in the workplace at once.1Earlier, organisations had only 2–3 generations, but now it is raised to five. The managers are in a dilemma when it comes to managing these employees of different generations. In light of the declining proportion of younger workers and projected shortages, many employers will need to turn to mature, experienced workers in order to gain and maintain a competitive advantage.2 This qualitative applied research paper is an effort made at providing effective tools and assisting the present managers to maximize the organisational efficiency by capitalizing on the unique characteristics of the multigenerational workforce. A descriptive study was conducted based on secondary data collected through books, articles, published reports in various national, international magazines, websites of companies etc. Similarities and dissimilarities were found among the different generations. The outcome of the study includes innovative techniques that can be used by the managers to solve the generation issues. The findings also highlights the difference in expectations of the different generations regarding employment demands, needs for orientation, training, career growth, retirement options, perks and benefits. The bottom line solution for such problems is that, one in every four workers tried to avoid conflict with the worker from other generations.3It is evident that the employees by default do not alien themselves from the other generations. Therefore, proper platform, communication can definitely bring peace and harmony between the generations. This paper is an attempt towards this end to provide various strategies and tools to break this ice between the generations. An intensive literature review was conducted and an effort is made to fill the research gaps.