Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Executive summary.............................................................................................................2
Key findings...........................................................................................................................3
Implications...........................................................................................................................9
The Millennial generation (defined as To examine how the Millennial The implications for enterprise
those born between 1977 and 1997) generation views and uses technology, IT organizations are potentially
is beginning to establish itself in Accenture embarked on a study in significant. As Millennials begin to
the workplace, flush with attitudes June 2008 as part of its long-term exert more influence in the workplace,
and expectations that are markedly program of research designed to IT leadership teams will have to find
different from prior generations. identify and understand the drivers a way to adapt their policies and
Nowhere perhaps are the differences of (and challenges to) achieving high procedures to accommodate the new
between new workers and their more performance within IT. The survey technology these younger workers
experienced colleagues more apparent queried more than 400 U.S. students are demanding. And they must do so
than with the use of technology. and employees across three age groups without putting the enterprise at risk.
The Millennials have grown up — 14-17 (“younger Millennials”),
multitasking, enabled by a rapid 18-22 (“mid-Millennials”) and 23-27 This report provides a summary of the
evolution of consumer electronics and (“older Millennials”). We found an research and the potential impact on
social networking applications that increasing demand among these corporate IT organizations.
allows them to stay “plugged in” 24/7. respondents for high-tech devices
Students and young workers take for to connect with colleagues, peers,
granted the ability to connect with friends and family – both inside and
friends and family at any time, from outside of the office or the classroom.
anywhere, via the Internet or their cell From a corporate perspective, the
phone. They are now bringing those findings point to a disconnect between
expectations into the workplace – and the enterprise technology that
turning IT policies upside down in the organizations provide their employees
process. and how young workers actually want
to use technology and collaborate in
the workplace.
2
Key findings
3
Exhibit 1 - ‘Mid-Millennials’ expect to use their own technology and mobile
devices for work
Expected, Current and Ideal Work environments
Mid-Millennials (18-22) Expected = 18-22 in school
Current and Ideal = 18-22 working
4
Exhibit 3 - Use of e-mail at school or work is still strong among older Millennials,
but the trend shifts downward among younger respondents
How many school or work hours during the week do you actually spend on
sites
6 5.4
4.8
4.2
4 3.5 3.8
3.1 2.8 3.0
2.6 2.6 2.6 2.8
2.3
2 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.9
1.6
0.8 0.9 0.9
0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.7
0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1
0
Writing or Text On the On social Listening Instant In a virtual Blogging or
receiving messaging Internet network to portable Messaging community on Twitter
school/work sites device
related emails
5
Exhibit 4 - There’s a gap between how organizations enable employees to
communicate with clients and customers and how younger employees would prefer
to communicate with them
Organizational communication with clients/customers
[Working Millennials]
80%
In person
58%
76%
Phone/Voice mail
49%
74%
Emails
46%
38%
Physical mail
20%
6%
Online chat/Instant Messaging
21%
5%
Mobile text message
18%
8% 11.8% 10%
12%
19% 17%
22% 5%
27% 5% 5.3% 28%
10.8% 3%
39%
8%
7% 23.7% 12%
30%
6% 28% 18.3% 8%
20% 9%
8% 31%
26%
19%
68%
57% 59.1% 60.5%
55% 55%
51%
42% 41%
34%
Mid- Older Mid- Older Mid- Older Mid- Older Mid- Older
Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials Millennials
Currently use but not Currently use and supported by IT Currently use, supported by IT Not applicable,
supported by IT department department, but not meeting expectations department and meeting expectations do not use
6
Exhibit 6 - Millennials are filling in the gaps of IT-supported technology by
accessing or downloading software from free public websites
For those technologies that are not made available to you at work or that are not
meeting your expectations do you then:
7
Exhibit 7 - Sixty percent of respondents either don’t know about or don’t adhere to
their organization’s policy for posting sensitive information on the public Internet
Has your organization implemented a policy restricting the posting of work or
client information on public websites outside of the organization’s firewall?
Exhibit 8.1 - Twenty-six percent of working Millennials said they write openly
about themselves and friends online
Usage of blogs or social sites
Mean
Older Millennials (in school) 31% 15% 29% 10% 15% 2.63
1 2 3 4 5
I never post any I love writing
information about myself
about myself or and my friends
friends online in blogs or my
social sites
Exhibit 8.2 - Seventeen percent of working Millennials say they openly share
details of their life online
Usage of blogs or social sites
Mean
1 2 3 4 5
I very am selective I share openly
about what I post details of my
online life online
8
Implications
9
Exhibit 9 - More than half of all Millennials said state-of-the-art technology is an
important consideration in selecting an employer
State-of-the-art equipment and technology will be vital in my employer selection
52%
10
Copyright © 2008 Accenture About Accenture
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Accenture, its logo, and consulting, technology services and
High Performance Delivered outsourcing company. Combining
are trademarks of Accenture. unparalleled experience, comprehensive
capabilities across all industries and
business functions, and extensive research
on the world’s most successful companies,
Accenture collaborates with clients to help
them become high-performance businesses
and governments. With more than 186,000
people in 49 countries, the company
generated net revenues of US$23.39 billion
for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2008.
Its home page is www.accenture.com.
ACC08-0659