Generations at work: Are there differences and do they matter?

International Journal of Human Resource Management

Volumn 22, Issue 9, 2011, Pages 1843-1865

  Benson, John ^a   Brown, Michelle ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA   (Australia)

^b UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE   (Australia)

Author keywords

Baby boomers (boomers); Generation x (genxers); Generational differences; Job satisfaction; Organizational commitment; Willingness to quit

Indexed keywords

EID: 79957864763     PISSN: 09585192     EISSN: 14664399     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2011.573966     Document Type: Article

References (101)

1. Agho, A., Price, J., and Mueller, C. (1993), 'Determinants of Employee Job Satisfaction: An Empirical test of a Casual Model,' Human Relations, 46, 8, 1007-1027.
2. Alwin, D. (1990), 'Cohort Replacement and Changes in Parental Socialization Value,' Journal of Marriage and Family, 52, May, 347-360.
3. Alwin, D., and Krosnick, J. (1991), 'Aging, Cohorts, and the Stability of Sociopolitical Orientations Over the Life Span,' The American Journal of Sociology, 97, 1, 169-195.
4. Angle, H., and Perry, J. (1981), 'An Empirical Assessment of Organizational Commitment and Organizational Effectiveness,' Administrative Science Quarterly, 26, March, 1-14.
5. Appelbaum, S., Serena, M., and Shapiro, B. (2005), 'Generation "X" and the Boomers: An Analysis of Realities and Myths,' Management Research News, 28, 1, 1-33.
6. Aronoff, R. (2006), 'Across the Divide: What Motivates the Different Generations that Make Up your Workforce,' US Business Review, 7, 6, 6-7.
7. Arsenault, P. (2004), 'Validating Generational Differences: A Legitimate Diversity and Leadership Issue,' Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 25, 2, 124-141.
8. Atkinson, W. (2003), 'Managing the Generation Gap Poses Many Problems,' Hotel and Motel Management, 3, November, 72-74.
9. Beaver, G., and Hutchings, K. (2005), 'Training and Developing an Age Diverse Workforce in SMEs: The Need for a Strategic Approach,' Education and Training, 47, 8/9, 592-604.
10. Benson, J. (1998), 'Dual Commitment: Contract Workers in Australian Manufacturing Enterprises,' Journal of Management Studies, 35, 3, 355-375.
11. Benson, J., and Brown, M. (2007), 'Knowledge Workers: What Keeps them Committed; What Turns them Away,' Work, Employment and Society, 21, 1, 121-141.
12. Berry, W., and Feldman, S. (1985), Multiple Regression in Practice, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
13. Brewer, A., and Henser, D. (1998), 'The Importance of Organisational Commitment in Managing Change: Experience of the NSW Private Bus Industry,' Logistic and Transport Review, 34, 2, 117-130.
14. Brooke, P., and Price, J. (1989), 'The Determinants of Employee Absenteeism: An Empirical Test of a Casual Model,' Journal of Occupational Psychology, 62, 1, 1-19.
15. Bryson, A., Cappellari, L., and Lucifora, C. (2004), 'Does Union Membership Reduce Job Satisfaction?' British Journal of Industrial Relations, 42, 3, 439-459.
16. Camilleri, E. (2002), 'Some Antecedents of Organisational Commitment: Results from an Informational Systems Public Sector Organisation,' Bank of Valleta Review, 25, Spring, 1-29.
17. Chatterjee, S., Hadi, A., and Price, B. (2000), Regression Analysis by Example (3rd ed.), New York: John Wiley and Sons.
18. Chen, P., and Spector, P. (1991), 'Negative Affectivity as the Underlying Cause of Correlation between Stressors and Strains,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 76, 3, 398-407.
19. Chiles, S. (2005), 'The Multi-generational Workplace,' Traveltrade, July 13, 11.
20. Coopey, J., and Hartley, J. (1991), 'Reconsidering the Case of Organisational Commitment,' Human Resource Management Journal, 1, 3, 18-32.
21. Cortina, J. (1993), 'What is Coefficient Alpha? An Examination of Theory and Applications,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 1, 98-104.
22. Cranny, C., Smith, C., and Stone, E. (1992), Job Satisfaction: How People Feel about their Jobs and How it Affects their Performance, New York: Lexington Books.
23. Cronbach, L. (1951), 'Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests,' Psychometrika, 16, 3, 297-334.
24. CUNA (2004), 'Managing Different Generations at Work,' in Point for Credit Union Research and Advice, Madison, WI: Credit Union National Association.
25. Daboval, J. (1998), 'A Comparison Between Baby Boomers and Generation X Employees' Bases and Foci of Commitment,' doctoral dissertation, Nova South Eastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
26. Deery, S., Erwin, P., and Iverson, R. (1994), 'Predicting Organizational and Union Commitment: The Effect of Industrial Relations Climate,' British Journal of Industrial Relations, 32, 4, 581-597.
27. DiRomualdo, T. (2006), 'Viewpoint: Geezers, Grungers, GenXers and Geeks: A Look at Workplace Generational Conflict,' Journal of Financial Planning, 19, 10, 18-21.
28. Eckman, E. (2004), 'Similarities and Differences in Role Conflict, Role Commitment and Job Satisfaction for Female and Male High School Principals,' Educational Administration Quarterly, 40, 3, 366-387.
29. Elsdon, R., and Lyer, S. (1999), 'Creating Value and Enhancing Retention through Employee Development: the Sun Microsystems Experience,' Human Resource Planning, 22, 2, 39-48.
30. Eyerman, R., and Turner, B. (1998), 'Outline of a Theory of Generations,' European Journal of Social Theory, 1, 1, 91-106.
31. Falkenburg, K., and Schyns, B. (2007), 'Work Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Withdrawal Behaviours,' Management Research News, 30, 10, 708-723.
32. Farrell, D., and Rusbult, C. (1981), 'Exchange Variables as Predictors of Job Satisfaction, Job Commitment and Turnover: The Impact of Rewards, Costs, Alternatives and Investments,' Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 28, 1, 78-95.
33. Fiske, D. (1982), 'Convergent and Discriminant Validation in Measurement and Research Strategies,' in New Directions in Methodology of Social and Behavioral Science: Forms of Validity in Research, eds. D. Brinberg and L. Kidder, San Fransico, CA: Jossey-Bass, pp. 77-92.
34. Frenkel, S., Korczynski, M., Shire, K., and Tam, M. (1999), On the Front Line: Organization of Work in the Information Economy, Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press.
35. Gans, D., and Silverstein, M. (2006), 'Norms of Filial Responsibility for Aging Parents Across Time and Generations,' Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, November, 961-976.
36. Gilleard, C. (2004), 'Cohorts and Generations in the Study of Social Change,' Social Theory and Health, 2, 1, 106-119.
37. Glass, A. (2007), 'Understanding Generational Differences for Competitive Success,' Industrial and Commercial Training, 39, 2, 98-103.
38. Giancola, F. (2006), 'The Generation Gap: More Myth than Reality,' Human Resource Planning, 29, 4, 32-37.
39. Guest, D. (1992), 'Employee Commitment and Control,' in Employment Relations, eds. J. Hartley and G. Stephenson, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 111-135.
40. Heneman, H., and Schwab, D. (1985), 'Pay Satisfaction: Its Multidimensional Nature and Measurement,' The International Journal of Psychology, 20, 129-141.
41. Hill, R. (2002), 'Managing Across Generations in the 21st Century: Important Lessons from the Ivory Trenches,' Journal of Management Enquiry, 11, 1, 60-72.
42. Houlihan, A. (2008), 'The New Melting Pot,' Construction News, 75, 2, 8-9.
43. House, J. (1981), Work Stress and Social Support, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
44. Iverson, R. (1992), 'Employee Intent to Stay: An Empirical Test of a Revision of the Price and Mueller Model,' Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Iowa.
45. Iverson, R. (1996), 'Employee Acceptance of Organizational Change: The Role of Organizational Commitment,' The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 7, 1, 122-149.
46. Iverson, R., and Buttigieg, D. (1999), 'Affective, Normative and Continuance Commitment: Can the 'Right Kind' of Commitment be Managed?' Journal of Management Studies, 36, 3, 307-333.
47. Jaros, S. (1997), 'An Assessment of Meyer and Allen's (1991) Three-Component Model of Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intentions,' Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51, 3, 319-337.
48. Jorgensen, B. (2003), 'Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y: Policy Implications for Defence Forces in the Modern Era,' Foresight, 5, 4, 41-49.
49. Jurkiewicz, C. (2000), 'Generation X and the Public Employee,' Public Personnel Management, 29, 1, 55-74.
50. Kahn, R., Wolfe, D., Quinn, R., Snoek, J., and Rosenthal, R. (1964), Organizational Stress: Studies in Role Conflict and Ambiguity, New York: John Wiley.
51. Kanungo, R. (1982), 'Measurement of Job and Work Involvement,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 3, 341-351.
52. Kennedy, M. (2003), 'Managing Different Generations Requires New Skills, Insightful Leadership,' Physician Executive, 29, 20-23.
53. Kim, H. (2007), 'The Changing of the Guard: What Generational Differences Tell us About Social-Change Organizations,' Diversity Factor, 15, 4, 18-26.
54. Kinicki, A., McKee-Ryan, F., Schriesheim, C., and Carson, K. (2002), 'Assessing the Construct Validity of the Job Descriptive Index: A Review and Meta-analysis,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 87, 1, 14-32.
55. Kupperschmidt, B. (2000), 'Multigeneration Employees: Strategies for Effective Management,' Health Care Manager, 19, 1, 65-76.
56. Lincoln, J., and Kalleberg, A. (1985), 'Work Organization and Workforce Commitment: A Study of Plants and Employees in the US and Japan,' American Sociological Review, 50, 6, 738-760.
57. Mannheim, K. (1952), 'The Problem of Generations,' in Essays on the Sociology of Knowledge, ed. K. Mannheim, London: Routledge, pp. 276-322.
58. Marsden, P., Kalleberg, A., and Cook, C. (1993), 'Gender Differences in Organizational Commitment,' Work and Occupations, 20, 3, 368-390.
59. Marshall, J. (2004), 'Managing Different Generations at Work,' Financial Executive, 20, 5, 18.
60. Mathieu, J., and Zajac, D. (1990), 'A Review and Meta-analysis of the Antecedents, Correlates and Consequences of Organizational Commitment,' Psychological Bulletin, 108, 2, 171-194.
61. McGuire, D., By, R., and Hutchings, K. (2007), 'Towards a Model of Human Resource Solutions for Achieving Intergenerational Interaction in Organisations,' Journal of European Industrial Training, 31, 8, 592-608.
62. McMullin, J., Comeau, T., and Jovic, W. (2007), 'Generational Affinities and Discourses of Difference: A Case Study of Highly Skilled Information Technology Workers,' British Journal of Sociology, 58, 2, 297-316.
63. Meyer, J., and Allen, N. (1997), Commitment in the Workplace: Theory, Research and Application, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
64. Michaels, C., and Spector, P. (1982), 'Causes of Employee Turnover: A Test of the Mobley, Griffeth, Hand and Meglino Model,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 1, 53-59.
65. Morris, T., Lydka, H., and O'Creevy, M. (1993), 'Can Commitment be Managed: A Longitudinal Analysis of Employee Commitment and Human Resource Policies,' Human Resource Management Journal, 3, 3, 21-42.
66. Mottaz, C. (1988), 'Determinants of Organizational Commitment,' Human Relations, 41, 6, 467-482.
67. Mowday, R., Porter, L., and Dubin, R. (1974), 'Unit Performance, Situational Factors, and Employee Attitudes in Spatially Separated Work Units,' Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 12, 2, 231-248.
68. Mowday, R., Porter, L., and Steers, R. (1982), Employee-Organization Linkages: The Psychology of Commitment, Absenteeism and Turnover, New York: Academic Press.
69. Mowday, R., Steers, R., and Porter, L. (1979), 'The Measurement of Organizational Commitment,' Journal of Vocational Behavior, 14, 2, 224-247.
70. Mueller, C., and Price, J. (1990), 'Economic, Psychological and Sociological Determinants of Voluntary Turnover,' Journal of Behavioral Economics, 19, 3, 321-335.
71. Nelson, B. (2006), 'Everyone: It Takes Different Incentives to Motivate People from Different Generations,' Corporate Meetings and Incentives, 25, 10, 34-39.
72. Nunnally, J. (1978), Psychometric Theory (2nd ed.), New York: McGraw-Hill.
73. O'Bannon, G. (2001), 'Managing Our Future: The Generation X Factor,' Public Personnel Management, 30, 1, 95-109.
74. Oldman, G., Kulik, C., Stepina, L., and Ambrose, M. (1986), 'Relations between Situational Factors and the Comparative Referents used by Employees,' Academy of Management Journal, 29, 599-608.
75. Porter, M. (1990), The Competitive Advantage of Nations, London: MacMillan.
76. Porter, L., and Steers, R. (1973), 'Organizational, Work and Personal Factors in Employee Turnover and Absenteeism,' Psychological Bulletin, 80, 2, 151-176.
77. Porter, L., Steers, R., Mowday, R., and Boulian, P. (1974), 'Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover among Psychiatric Technicians,' Journal of Applied Psychology, 59, 5, 603-609.
78. Price, J., and Mueller, C. (1981), Professional Turnover: The Case of Nurses, New York: SP Medical and Scientific.
79. Reichers, A. (1985), 'A Review and Reconceptualization of Organizational Commitment,' Academy of Management Review, 10, 3, 465-476.
80. Rizzo, J., House, R., and Lirtzman, S. (1970), 'Role Conflict and Ambiguity in Complex Organizations,' Administrative Science Quarterly, 15, 150-163.
81. Roberts, J., and Manolis, C. (2000), 'Baby Boomers and Busters: An Exploratory Investigation of Attitudes towards Marketing, Advertising and Consumerism,' Journal of Consumer Marketing, 17, 6, 481-499.
82. Rose, M. (2003), 'Good Deal, Bad Deal? Job Satisfaction in Occupations,' Work, Employment and Society, 17, 3, 503-530.
83. Sagie, A. (1998), 'Employee Absenteeism, Organizational Commitment, and Job Satisfaction: Another Look,' Journal of Vocational Behavior, 52, 2, 156-171.
84. Schamm, J. (2004), 'Age Groups Mostly in Accord,' HR Magazine, 49, 9, 208.
85. Schappe, S. (1998), 'The Influence of Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Fairness Perceptions on Organizational Citizenship Behavior,' Journal of Psychology, 132, 3, 277-290.
86. Schuman, H., and Scott, J. (1989), 'Generations and Collective Memories,' American Sociological Review, 54, 3, 359-381.
87. Scundura, T., and Lankau, M. (1997), 'Relationships of Gender, Family Responsibility and Flexible Work Hours to Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction,' Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 18, 4, 377-391.
88. Shields, M., and Shields, M. (2003), 'Working with Generation X Physicians,' Physician Executive, 29, 14-18.
89. Sirias, D., Karp, H., and Brotherton, T. (2007), 'Comparing the Levels of Individualism/Collectivism between Baby Boomers and Generation X: Implications for Teamwork,' Management Research News, 30, 10, 749-761.
90. Smith, T. (2007), 'Job Satisfaction in the United States,' Working Paper, National Opinion Research Centre, University of Chicago, April 17.
91. Smola, K., and Sutton, C. (2002), 'Generational Differences: Revisiting Generational Work Values for the New Millennium,' Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 23, 4, 363-382.
92. Somech, A., and Bogler, R. (2002), 'Antecedents and Consequences of Teacher Organizational and Professional Commitment,' Educational Administration Quarterly, 38, 4, 555-577.
93. Spector, P., and O'Connell, B. (1994), 'The Contribution of Personality Traits, Negative Affectivity, Locus of Control and Type A to the Subsequent Reports of Job Stressors and Job Strains,' Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 67, 1, 1-11.
94. Steers, R. (1977), 'Antecedents and Outcomes of Organizational Commitment,' Administrative Science Quarterly, 22, March, 46-56.
95. Stockard, J., and O'Brien, R. (2002), 'Cohort Variation and Changes in Age-Specific Suicide Rates over Time: Explaining Variations in Youth Suicide,' Social Forces, 81, 2, 605-642.
96. Stoeva, A., Chiu, R., and Greenhaus, J. (2002), 'Negative Affectivity, Role Stress, and Work-family Conflict,' Journal of Vocational Behavior, 60, 1, 1-16.
97. Studenmund, A., and Cassidy, H. (1987), Using Econometrics: A Practical Guide, Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
98. Stumpf, S., and Hartman, K. (1984), 'Individual Exploration to Organizational Commitment or Withdrawal,' Academy of Management Journal, 27, 2, 308-329.
99. Tulgan, B. (1996), Managing Generation X: How to Bring out the Best in Young Talent, Oxford: Capstone.
100. Valentine, S., Godkin, L., and Lucero, M. (2002), 'Ethical Context, Organizational Commitment, and Person-Organization Fit,' Journal of Business Ethics, 41, 4, 349-360.
101. Wallace, J. (1995), 'Corporatist Control and Organizational Commitment among Professionals: The Case of Lawyers Working in Law Firms,' Social Forces, 73, 3, 811-840.