In recent years a lot of discussion in management about the workforce diversity.

One of the main issues that have been ignored is the generation diversity at workplace. Recent issue which is getting momentum these days and is a prominent challenge for todays manager. Each generation has different work values, different perception of authority, different view about what is important in life, admires different leadership styles. Instead of stereotyping there is a need to understand the individuals perspective to effectively manage the work.

Old view Older workers were the bosses. Younger workers did what they were said. Definite rules as to how the boss was treated and the younger workers. But now, no longer these rules are working. Therefore understanding of generational diversity is important to : To understand how to communicate with diff. generations. Eliminate major confrontations and misunderstanding.

Generation : Identifiable group which shares years of birth and significant life events at critical stages of life. Mainly four generation of employees : Traditionalist / Pre-Independence Generation (1940-1950) Boomers / Post Independence Generation (1960-1970) Generation X / Pre Economic Reforms Generation (1980-1990) Generation Y / Post Economic Reform Generation (1990-2000)

Saw the birth of India as an independent nation. Living conditions very low , poor economy , short life expectancies. Low rates of literacy, mass impoverishment, stalled industrial development, destitute farmers, loyalty to family and community. Teens experienced rapid growth of suburbs , increased availability of consumer goods , boom in white collar jobs, possibility of joining jobs increased.

This era was suspicious of authority and idealistic about their role. They grew up competing for limited no. of seats available for their rapidly expanding cohort and are competitive . During this period shift to a socialist economic model , changes in economic policy , political factions grew up, rupee was liberalized, green revolution, country became self sufficient in food grains, Teens experienced economic options were limited , personal options were heavily influenced by family, group or caste into which one was born. Those who are able success is linked with getting out of India to obtain higher education and work in UK r US.

Extra ordinary social change . During this period number of economic reforms, loosened business regulations, lowered restrictions on FI , reduced bureaucracy , more expansion of Telecommunication Industry, Software Industry. LPG was introduced.75% of IITs migrated to US. Teens experienced many employees laid off their jobs where they planned to spend their entire life, women entering workforce, rising divorce rates, growth of electronic games and internet. They thought that is logical that self reliance became an important option in life

They had a view that it is logical to live life fully now. During this period dev of large middleclass ,increased prod. of consumer goods, Indian economy grew under liberalization, country was stable, political power changed without any fall out. , India- prestigious educational power house, source of IT talent. By 2008 34 Indian companies were listed on the Forbes Global 2000 ranking. Teens experienced Optimistic, goal oriented, family centric approach . Financial rewards, most of them were entrepreneurial and business savvy, tech. capable and connected. They easily accept diversity of opinion as well as the western heritage of laws and customs left from old days of British rule, making them strongly suited for global interaction.