Understanding
Generational
Differences
#GOInnovate17
David Liss (Gen-X)
Exec. Director of Technology
[email protected]
@NixaTechDir
#GOInnovate17
I Know that I
I Know
Don’t Know
I Think I Don’t Know
I Know that I Don’t Know
Generations
• (Before 1946) Traditionalists
• (1946-1960) Baby Boomers
• (1961-1980) Generation X
• (1981-1995) Generation Y / Millennial
• (1996-2010) Generation Z / iGeneration
• (2010-Present) Generation Alpha?
Question for you.....
What was the home/school environment like
during your generation?
i.e. relationships between grandparents, parents, kids, teachers, etc.
Traditionalists (Before 1946)
Upbringing Values/Beliefs
• Grew up during hard • Place duty before
times pleasure
• Many lived in segregated • Value honor and integrity
communities and • Patience is its own
attended segregated reward; delayed
schools gratification
Traditionalists (Before 1946)
• Desires respect • Prefers stability
• Hierarchy - • Dedicated and
respects authority compliant
• Formal communication • Not tech savvy
• Defined roles and • Face to face
responsibilities communication
Baby Boomers (1946-1960)
Upbringing Values/Beliefs
• Indulged by their parents • Optimistic
• They would be THE • Personal gratification -
generation to change the now vs. later
world • Personal growth
• Experienced • Involvement
neighborhood and
school integration
Baby Boomers (1946-1960)
• Team-oriented • Prefers stability
• Tech inconsistent • Dedicated and
• Conflict avoidance compliant
• Consensus decision • Face to face
making communication
• High expectations of • Work > Family
others • Group > Individual
Generation X (1961-1980)
Upbringing Values/Beliefs
• 50% affected by divorce • Diversity
• Autonomous and self- • Balance
reliant • Informality
• 50% latchkey kids • Self-reliance
• Boomerang kids -
3x more likely to move
back home as young
adults (in their 20s)
Generation X (1961-1980)
• Averse to long term • Adaptable
commitment • Techno literate
• Balance between life • Independent
and work
• Not intimidated by
• Assertive authority
• Selective • Respect is earned, not
• Goal driven given
Generation Y (1980-1995)
Upbringing Values/Beliefs
• ⅓ born to single mothers • Optimism and collective
• Demographically diverse action
• Best educated • Positive relationship with
generation in US history parents
• Spend significant time • Civic duty
on internet/technology
• Diversity
• Tenacity
• Mixers
Generation Y (1980-1995)
• YOLO • Inexperienced with
• Earn and Spend handling difficulty
• Consumers • Conditional respect
• Tech savvy • Rely on immediacy of
technology
• Multi-taskers
• Skeptical
• Digital natives
• Need for structure
Generation Z (1996-2010)
Upbringing Values/Beliefs
• Early loss of innocence • Realistic
• Resilient and pragmatic • Understand problems
• Observed family and and confront them
community hardships • Inspired to improve the
• Limited boundaries world
• Financially careful
Generation Z (1996-2010)
• Highly connected • Value flexibility
• Digital natives • Give loyalty when loyalty
• Minimal expected wait is given
time • Resume ready
• Graphic learners • Anti-rules and authority
• Customization is key • Personal goal-oriented
• Competitive
Generation Alpha? (2010-Present)
Facts
• 2,500,000 GenAlpha’s born globally each week
GenY Parents
• Life expectancy: M 80.1 - F 84.3
• Age at first marriage: M 29.9 - F 28.3
• Age at first birth: M 33.0 - F 30.8
• Total Fertility Rate: 1.9
Generation Alpha? (2010-Present)
Predictions (debatable)
• They will be one of the more entrepreneurial generations.
• They will be the most tech savvy and not know a world without
social networking.
• They will primarily shop online and have less human contact than
previous generations.
• They will be extremely coddled and influenced by their Gen X and
Y parents.
• They will be more self-sufficient, better educated and prepared for
big challenges.
Generations: How Do They Interact?
• Traditionalists
• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Generation Y (Millennial)
• Generation Z (Net Gen, iGeneration)
• Generation Alpha
Question for you...
Now, what are the home/school environment
and relationships like between grandparents,
parents, kids, teachers, etc. during our current
generation?
