Columbia Southern University
BHR 3551 Human Relations and Development
Generational Differences: How to Overcome Them
“Generation Gaps: Changes in the Workplace due to Differing Generational Values”
written by Kelly Carbary, Elizabeth Fredericks, Bharat Mishra and Jiitendra Mishra (2016),
explores the generation gap between Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation
Y, the reasons as to why there are such differing values amongst the four different generations
that are working together in today’s workplace, and why that has led to problematic
communication amongst them.
Summary
According to Carbary, Fredericks, and Mishra’s (2016) research, a lack of communication
about the different types of values and goals each generation hold can be credited as the
contributing factor to much of the discord and distain between the differing generations that are
present in the workplace today (Carbary et al., 2016). While this insufficient communication can
stem from many different things the article focuses on it being more from general lack of
understanding of each generation’s “distinct attitudes, behaviors, expectations, habits, and
motivational buttons” (Carbary et al., 2016, p. 2). This miscommunication and lack of
understanding is primarily seen from management’s and human resource’s point of view, which
the article navigates around. One way to overcome this, and to resolve potential conflict within
the workplace, as explored in the article, is to learn how to effectively communicate with each
generation. To do this one must learn the differences that are present amongst each generation