Module 2 - Case WORKPLACE MOTIVATION

MGT302 Case 2 Your Name Trident University International MGT302 Organizational Behavior and Teamwork Due Date MGT302 Case 2 The business world in contemporary society is blessed to have four active generations in its workforce. Business owners and managers must understand each generation's sources of motivation and preferred communication styles. In a normal workplace, the older generation is valued for their vast experience in specific fields of work. In contrast, the younger generation is valued for their unending energy in the workforce. As of 2024, the four active generations in the workforce include baby boomers, millennials, generation X, and generation Z. There are generalizations on each generation's unique features, outlooks, and values. However, employers must always treat employees as individuals before considering what is applicable as a group. This paper will discuss crucial motivational factors in the four generational cohorts in the workforce, analyze how their characteristics differ, and provide practical implications at work. Identify and Analyze Motivational Factors: Baby Boomers The baby boomers include individuals born between 1946 and 1964 and currently constitute the aging population in the workforce. These individuals have a rich historical and cultural background that shaped their values and work preferences. According to Kuligowski (2024), the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the first civil rights movement shaped the baby boomer generation. Baby boomers grew up during economic prosperity and relatively stable job markets. This ignited their value for job security and stability instead of taking business risks. They also value a strong work ethic and loyalty to their employers. However, most baby boomers have not secured sufficient funds in their pension schemes to sustain them during retirement. This explains why some workers are above the retirement age but still willing to work for more years because of uncertainties in retirement. Moreover, baby boomers were the pioneers of civil rights movements in the 20th century that aimed to seek better working conditions and promote equality in the workplace (Turner & James-Gallaway, 2022). The motivations of baby boomers are deeply rooted in the socioeconomic and cultural context of their formative years Identify and Analyze Motivational Factors: Generation X Generation X is sandwiched between baby boomers and millennials, making up a significant portion of the workforce. This generation was born between 1965 and 1980 and is associated with substantial social, economic, and technological changes (Kulgowski, 2024). Important world events that shaped Generation X include the fall of the Berlin Wall, the AIDS pandemic, the invention of the internet, and other relevant technological innovations (Kuligowski, 2024). Having witnessed their baby boomer parents engaged in long hours of career work, Generation X highly values work-life balance. Baby boomers believed that the pay at the end of the accounting period depended on the total number of hours worked. Some men left their families and relatives for months to go and work in distant regions for an extended period. Generation X also values independence and autonomy, even in their quest for an excellent work-life balance. Businesses that provide opportunities for skill enhancement and training programs will attract and retain many Generation X employees. Generation X witnessed the advent of personal computers, mobile technology, and the Internet (Roth-Cohen et al., 2022). While comfortable with technology, they value tools that enhance productivity and e...