 | Bill Lee is owner and CEO of Scott Rice Office Interiors, LLC, a company created in 1934, then known as Bauman's. Scott Rice is a Steelcase dealer and an Office Furniture USA franchise owner. Scott Rice provides office furniture, modular carpet, panel systems and related installation and moving services to businesses and organizations throughout central Kansas. Bill acquired Scott Rice in December 2003 after serving as general manager for the three previous years. He has a broad background in sales/sales management and held general management positions in four different companies over the last 25 years. Bill has managed businesses in several different arenas to include office products, paper converting, specialty advertising and now office furniture. He has been involved in three business turnarounds during his management career. Bill grew up in Southeast Kansas and graduated from Kansas University. He served as an Army infantry officer in Vietnam and considers this experience as his best learning experience related to people management. Bill has always felt that managing toward superior service performance is the key to success in any organization and he made that a top priority at Scott Rice from the very beginning. |
Business Consulting
2005-12-29 14:16:00
What is ‘Generation Convergence’?
Question: What is Generation Convergence?
Answer: If you haven't noticed we now have four generations of employees in the workplace, each with a common set of values and orientations stemming from the different environments from which they were reared. Each generation has its own mind set and when they all come together at the office a phenomenon known as "generational convergence" occurs. The generations must work together even though they approach their jobs differently. If you are involved in designing your office work space you need to pay heed to this "convergence." The four generations consist of the "Mature Generation" (born 1928-45), "Baby Boomers" (born1946-65), Generation "X" (born 1966-77) and now, welcome to Generation "Y" (born after 1978). Individual success can be found in equal numbers in all generations but each have their own unique ways of finding it. Generations have been coming together for a long time but the newest entrants, Generation Y, born after 1978, may exert more influence than even their Baby Boomer parents. Gen Yers and the Mature Generation generally present the biggest "convergence" in the workplace. The Mature Generation, born between 1928 and 1945, had a childhood of hard times, war, economic recovery and possess all the traditional values - loyalty, willingness to conform, importance of hard work and faith in the American institutions. Generation Y, on the other hand, are the children of parents that enacted the helmet laws, spent money on tutors, stocked the house with electronics and coached their kid's soccer games. This nurturing environment made this generation confident, optimistic and democratic. They are concerned about individual freedom and equality. They are team oriented as a result of parents that respected their ideas and encouraged them to express their feelings. And don't forget, Gen Yers have grown up in an era where technology advances have accelerated - they have embraced it quicker than the other generations and are defining where it fits in the workplace.Baby Boomers share a strong emphasis on individuality, youth and adventure. They have humanized the workplace, making it comfortable and encouraging innovation at all levels.Generation X is typically very entrepreneurial. They were raised in times of idealism and equality. They sometimes lack the social and cultural limitations of their predecessors.So, what's the big deal? For starters Gen Y will expect a less hierarchical workplace; they believe that achievement and success will require a group effort. They don't see a place for individualism. Job descriptions are only guidelines and multitasking is how they go about their job. Gen Yers expect more training from their employers, seek more benefits and will change jobs more often. Research has shown that Gen Yers want the workplace to be fun, relaxed and nontraditional. They don't want to be tied down to a desk. Instead, they will hold wireless keyboards on their laps while they type and stand outside in the sun on their cell phone. They will gather around the break room, sip coffee and talk equally about work and personal events. Those hiring Gen Yers must recognize these characteristics and create office environments geared to attracting and retaining employees.The work environment must respond to the varying needs of each generation - from members of the Mature Generation and early Boomers who need offices that accommodate declining eye sight and hearing, to those in Generation X and Y who want homey, comfortable spaces to lounge through meetings or late-night sessions. Generation Y will take the lead in deciding how computers and other technology will take hold in the workplace. Every other generation has had to adapt themselves to how things were done as they entered the workforce. Now the workforce is adapting itself to Generation Y and the technology expertise they bring. The design, configuration and furnishing of the physical space in which a group functions can impact the group's identity, behavior and productivity. The traditional focus of space - on the needs of the individual - may need to shift to the needs of the team. Doing so will affect the design of the space, furnishing requirements, mobility, adaptability and tool support.
