Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?

Sait Gürbüz

doi:10.18394/iid.80342

Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 39 - 57, 07.04.2015

Sait Gürbüz

https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.80342

Cited By: 39

Abstract

There is an increasingly prevalent assumption among some authors, management consultants, and popular press that there are substantive generational differences among Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y in today’s workplaces. Yet systematic research into intergenerational differences has been limited and largely U.S. centric. The purpose of present study was to investigate whether there are differences among generations in their job and organizational attitudes (i.e., organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and citizenship behavior), work ethics, and personal values by using multigenerational theory framework. Data for this study were collected from 731 Turkish employees working seven sectors in Ankara. The research hypotheses were tested with MANCOVA. Only three research hypotheses were supported out of 18. The results showed that there are significant differences among generational cohorts in their affective commitment and non-leisure work ethic. Thus, generational differences were relatively weak. Our Turkish results did not support the common perception that intergenerational differences exist among generations in work-related outcomes and personal values. Furthermore, the generalizability of the Western generational classification to the Turkish context is nonsensical and questionable.

Keywords

Generations, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Work attitudes, Values.

References

Aldag, R. J. & Brief, A. P. (1975). Some correlates of work values, Journal of Applied Psychology, vol 60, pp. 757-760.
Allen, N. J. & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization, Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, 1-18,
Appelbaum, S., Serena, M., & Shapiro, B. (2005). Generation “X and the boomers: An analysis of realities and myths, Management Research News, 28(1), 1–33.
Arslan, M. (2001). The work ethic values of protestant british, catholic irish and muslim turkish managers, Journal of Business Ethics, 31, 321–339.
Badger, J. M., Costanza, D. P., Blacksmith, N., & Severt, J. B. (2014, May). Testing the theory of shared experiences in generational differences. Paper to be presented at the 29th annual conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Honolulu, HI.
Baguma, P. & Furnham, A. (1993), The Protestant Work ethic in Great Britain and Uganda, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 24 (4), 495-507
Benson, J. & Brown, M. (2011). Generations at work: are there differences and do they matter. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(9), 1843–1865.
Blau, G. & Ryan, J. (1997). On measuring work ethic: A neglected work commitment facet, Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51, 435 – 448.
Bodenhausen, G. V., & Hugenberg, K. (2009). Attention, perception, and social cognition. In F. Strack & J. Förster (Eds.), Social cognition: The basis of human interaction (pp. 1-22). Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Brayfield, A.H. & Rothe, H.F. (1951). An index of job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 3(5), 307-311.
Brislin, R. W. (1986). The wording and translation of research instruments. In W. J. Lonner & J. W. Berry (Eds.), Field methods in cross-cultural research (pp. 137-164). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Berry, J. W. & Lonner, W. J. (1986) (Eds.) Field Methods in Cross-Cultural Research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Buchholz, R. A. (1978). The work ethic reconsidered. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 31 (4), 450-459.
Cennamo, L. & Gardner, D. (2008). Generational differences in work values, outcomes and person-organization values fit. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(8), 891–906.
Chester, E. (2002). Employing Generation Why? Katy, TX: Tucker House Books.
Cogin, J. (2012). Are generational differences in work values fact or fiction? Multi-country evidence and implications. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(11), 2268-2294.
Costanza, D. P., Badger, J. M., Fraser, R. L., Severt, J. B. & Gade, P. A. (2012). Generational differences in work-related attitudes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Business and Psychology, 27, 375-394.
Costanza, D. P., & Finkelstein, L. M. (2015). Generationally based differences in the workplace: Is there a there there? Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 8(3), 1-27.
Crumpacker, M. & Crumpacker, J.M. (2007). Succession Planning and Generational Stereotypes: Should HR Consider Age-Based Values and Attitudes a Relevant Factor or a Passing Fad? Public Personnel Management, 36, 349–369.
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.
Egri, C. P. & Ralston, D. A. (2004). Generation cohorts and personal values: A comparison of China and the United States. Organization Science, 15(2), 210–220.
Elsdon, R. & Lyer, S. (1999). Creating value and enhancing retention through employee development: The Sun Microsystems experience. Journal of Human Resource Planning, 22(2), 39 – 48.
Erdoğan, İ. (1999). İşletme yönetiminde örgütsel davranış, İşletme Fakültesi Yayını, No.5, İstanbul.
Erikson, E. (1997). The life cycle completed, New York: W.W. Norton.
Ferres, N., Travaglione, A. & Firns, I. (2003). Attitudinal differences between generation-X and older employees. International Journal of Organizational Behavior, 6(3), 320-333.
Fiske, S. T. (2010). Social Beings: Core Motives in Social Psychology. New York: Wiley.
Furnham, A. (1990). A content, correlational, and factor analytic study of seven questionnaire measures of the Protestant work ethic. Human Relations, 43, 383–399.
Giancola, F. (2006). The generation gap: More myth than reality?. Human Resource Planning, 29(4), 32-37.
Glass, A. (2007). Understanding generational differences for competitive success, Industrial and Commercial Training, 39, 98 – 103.
Goodale, J. (1973). Effects of personal background and training on work values of the hard-core unemployed. Journal of Applied Psychology, 57(1), 1-9.
Gürbüz, S. (2006). Örgütsel vatandaşlık davranışı ile duygusal bağlılık arasındaki ilişkilerin belirlenmesine yönelik bir araştırma, Ekonomik ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 3(1), 48-75.
Gürbüz, S. (2007). Yöneticilerin örgütsel vatandaşlık davranışlarının iş tatmini ve algıladıkları örgütsel adalet ile ilişkisi (Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi). İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
Gürbüz, S. (2008). İş tatmini ve adalet algısının örgütsel vatandaşlık davranışına etkisi. Amme İdaresi Dergisi, 41(4), 49-77.
Gürbüz, S. (2009). Some possible antecedents of military personnel organizational citizenship behavior. Military Psychology, 21, 200–215.
Gürbüz, S. (2011). Stratejik insan kaynakları yönetiminin örgütsel bağlılığa ve iş tatminine etkisi: İnsan kaynakları yöneticileri üzerinde bir araştırma. Atatürk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 15 (2), 397-418
Gürbüz, S. & Bekmezci M. (2012). İnsan kaynakları yönetimi uygulamalarının bilgi işçilerinin işten ayrılma niyetine etkisinde duygusal bağlılığın aracılık ve düzenleyicilik rolü. İstanbul Üniversitesi İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, 41(2), 189-213.
Gürbüz, S. & Şahin, F. (2015). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri: Felsefe-yöntem-analiz (2.Baskı). Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Hill, R. (2002). Managing across generations in the 21st century: Important lessons from the ivory trenches, Journal of Management Enquiry, 11(1), 60–72.
Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
House, R., Hanges, P., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. & Gupta, V. (2004). Culture, leadership and organizations:The Globe Study of 62 Societies: Sage Publications.
Inglehart, R. (1997). Modernization and postmodernization: cultural, economic, and political change in 43 societies, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Johnson, J.A. & Lopes, J. (2008). The intergenerational workforce, revisited. Organization Development Journal, 26, 31–36.
Jones, H.B. (1997). The Protestant ethic: Weber’s Model and the empirical literature”, Human Relations, 50(7), 757-778.
Jorgensen, B. (2003). Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y: Policy implications for defence forces in the modern era. Foresight, 5(4), 41–49.
Jöreskog, K. G. & Sörbom, D. (2006). LISREL 8.80 for Windows [Computer Software]. Scientific Software International, Inc., Lincolnwood, IL.
Jurkiewicz, C. E. & Brown, R. G. (1998). GenXers vs. Boomers vs Matures: Generational comparison of public employee motivation. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 18, 18 – 37.
Kowske, B. J., Rasch, R., & Wiley, J. (2010). Millennials’ (lack of) attitude problem: An empirical examination of generation effects on work attitudes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 265–279.
Kupperschmidt, B. (2000). Multi-deneration employees: Strategies for effective management, Health Care Manager, 19, 65 – 76.
Lancaster, L. C. & Stillman, D. (2005). When generations collide. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Locke, E.A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In M. D. Dunnette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 1297–1349). Chicago: Rand McNally.
Lubinski, D., Schmidt, D. B. & Benbow, C. P. (1996). A 20-year stability analysis of the study of values for intellectually gifted individuals from adolescence to adulthood. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81, 443-451.
Lub, X., Bijvank, M. N., Bal, P. M., Blomme, R. & Schalk, R. (2012). Different or alike? Exploring the psychological contract and commitment of different generations of hospitality workers. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 24(4), 553 - 573
Macky, K., Gardner, D. & Forsyth, S. (2008). Generational differences at work: Introduction and overview, Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(8), 857–861.
Mannheim, K. (1922/1924). Structures of thinking. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Mannheim, K. (1952). The problem of generations. In K. Mannheim (Ed.), Essays on the Sociology of knowledge (pp. 276–322), London: Routledge.
Martin, C.A. (2005). From high maintenance to high productivity: what managers need to know about generation Y. Industrial and Commercial Training, 37, 39 – 44.
McMullin, J., Comeau, T. & 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.
Meglino, B. M. & Ravlin, E. C. (1998). Individual values in organizations: Concepts, controversies, and research. Journal of Management, 24, 351–389.
Meyer, J. P. Stanley, D. J. Herscovitch, L. & Topolnytsky, L. (2002). Affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organisation: A meta-analysis of antecedents, correlates, and consequences, Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61, 20-52.
Ng, T. W. H. & Feldman, D. C. (2010). The relationships of age with job attitudes: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 63, 677–718.
Norris, P. & Inglehart, R. (2004), Sacred and secular: Politics and religion worldwide, New York, Cambridge University Press
O’Bannon, G. (2001). Managing our future: The generation X factor. Public Personnel Management, 29, 55–74.
Organ, D. W. (1988). Organizational citizenship behavior: The good soldier syndrome, Lexington Books, Lexington, MA
Özer –Süral, Ö., Eriş, E.D. & Timurcanday –Özmen, Ö.N. (2013). Kuşakların farklılaşan iş değerlerine ilişkin emik bir araştırma. Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 38, 123-141.
Parry, E. & Urwin, P. (2010). Generational differences in work values: A review of theory and evidence. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13, 79–96.
Raineri, N., Paille, P. & Morin, D. (2012). Organizational citizenship behavior: An intergenerational study. Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale, 25(3-4), 147-177.
Reynolds, J., Stewart, M., MacDonald, R. & Sischo, L. (2006). Have adolescents become too ambitious? High school seniors’ educational and occupational plans, 1976 to 2000. Social Problems, 53, 186-206.
Roberts, J. & 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.
Queller, S. & Smith, E. R. (2002). Subtyping versus bookkeeping in stereotype learning and change: Connectionist simulations and empirical findings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 300-313.
Sackett, P. R. (2002). Letter report. Washington, DC: The National Academies, Division of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Education.
Schwartz, S. H. (1992). Universals in the content and structure of values: Theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (25. cilt, s. 1–65). New York: Academic Press.
Schwartz, S. H. (1994). Are there universal aspects in the content and structure of values? Journal of Social Issues, 50, 19-45.
Schwartz, S. H. (1997). Values and culture. In D. Munro, S. Carr, & J. Schumaker (Eds.), Motivation and culture (pp. 69-84). New York: Routledge.
Schwartz, S. H. & Bardi, A. (2001). Value hierarchies across cultures: Taking a similarities perspective. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 32, 268-290.
Sessa, V. I., Kabacoff, R. I., Deal, J. & Brown, H. (2007). Generational differences in leader values and leadership behaviors. Psychologist-Manager Journal, 10, 47-74.
Smith, C. A., Organ, D. W. & Near, J. P. (1983). Organizational citizenship behavior: Its nature and antecedents. Journal of Applied Psychology, 68, 653-663.
Smith, J. W. & Clurman, A. (1997). Rocking the ages: the yankelovich report on generational marketing, New York: Harper Collins.
Smith, P. B. & Schwartz, S. H. (1997). Values,’ in Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology (Vol. 3, 2nd ed.), eds. J.W. Berry, M.H. Segall and C. Kagitcibasi, Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, pp. 77–118
Smola, K. W. & Sutton, C. D. (2002). Generational differences: revisiting generational work values for the new millennium, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23, 363–382.
Steele, M. J. & Gordon, V.N. (2006). Advising in a multigenerational workplace. http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/ Clearinghouse/ AdvisingIssues/ generations.htm#gen (23.11.2014).
Stein, J. & Sanburn, J. (20 Mayis 2013). The new greatest Greatest Generation. Time.
Stevens-Long, J. (1990). Adult development: Theories past and future. In R.A. Nemiroff, C.A. Colarusso (Eds.) New Dimensions in Adult Development (pp. 125-165). Basic Books, New York.
Strauss, W. & Howe, N. (1991). Generations: The history of America’s future. New York, NY: William Morrow.
Sullivan, S. E., Forret, M. L., Carraher, S. M. & Mainiero, L.A. (2009). Using the Kaleidoscope Career Model to Examine generational differences in work attitudes, Career Development International, 14 (2–3), 284–302.
Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Twenge, J. M. (2010), Generational differences in work values: A review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Business and Psychology, 102, 1045-1062.
Twenge, J. M. (2010). A review of empirical evidence on generational differences in work attitudes. Journal of Business Psychology, 25, 201-210.
Twenge, J. M., Campbell, S. M., Hoffman B. J. & Lance, C. E. (2010). Generational differences in work values: Leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing. Journal of Management, 36 (5), 1117-1142.
Wallace, J. (2006). Work commitment in the legal profession: A study of baby boomers and generation Xers, International Journal of the Legal Profession, 13(2), 137–151.
Wasti, S. A. (2000). Meyer ve Allen’in üç boyutlu örgütsel bağlılık ölçeğinin geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik analizi, 8. Ulusal Yönetim ve Organizasyon Kongresi Bildiriler Kitabı, 401-410.
Weber, M. (1958). The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism (Translated by T. Parsons). New York: Scribner.
Westerman, J. W. & Yamamura, J. H. (2007). Generational preferences for work environment fit: Effects on employee outcomes, Career Development International, 12(2), 150–161.
Williams, S. & Sandler, R. L. (1995). Work values and attitudes: Protestant and confucian ethics as predictors of satisfaction and commitment, Research and Practice in Human Resource Management, 3(1), 1-13.
Yu, H. & Miller, P. (2005). Leadership style: The X generation and baby boomers compared in different cultural contexts. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 26(1), 35–50.

Kuşak Farklılıkları: Mit mi, Gerçek mi?

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 39 - 57, 07.04.2015

Sait Gürbüz

https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.80342

Cited By: 39

Abstract

Çalışma yaşamındaki üç kuşak arasında (Bebek Patlaması Kuşağı, X ve Y Kuşağı) önemli farklılıklar olduğu görüşü; bazı araştırmacılar, yönetim danışmanları ve popular medya tarafından sıklıkla dile getirilmeye başlanmıştır. Ancak kuşak farklılıklarına dair sistematik araştırmalar hem oldukça kısıtlı hem de bunların çoğu ABD kökenlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı; çoklu kuşak kuramından hareket ederek, farklı kuşaklara mensup işgörenlerin, iş ve örgüte ilişkin temel tutumlarının (örgütsel bağlılık, iş tatmini ve örgütsel vatandaşlık davranışı), bireysel değerlerinin ve iş ahlâkı değerlerinin farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığını tespit etmektir. Araştırmanın hipotezleri, Ankara’da yedi farklı iş kolunda istihdam edilen 731 işgörenden toplanan verilerle MANCOVA analizi kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Yapılan analizler neticesinde, 18 araştırma hipotezinden sadece üçü desteklenmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre, yalnızca duygusal bağlılık ve iş ahlâkının “boşa zaman geçirmeme” boyutu bakımından kuşaklar arasında anlamlı farklılıklar olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Kuşaklar arası farklılıklara ilişkin zayıf kanıtlar elde edildiğinden, kuşakların değer ve tutumlarının farklı olduğuna dair yaygın olan algı destek bulmamıştır. Ayrıca, ABD kökenli kuşak sınıflandırmasının, Türkiye bağlamında geçerliliğinin kuşkulu olduğu söylenebilir.

Primary Language	English
Journal Section	Articles
Authors	Sait Gürbüz
Publication Date	April 7, 2015
Submission Date	April 7, 2015
Published in Issue	Year 2015 Volume: 2 Issue: 1

APA	Gürbüz, S. (2015). Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?. İş Ve İnsan Dergisi, 2(1), 39-57. https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.80342
AMA	Gürbüz S. Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?. İİD. April 2015;2(1):39-57. doi:10.18394/iid.80342
Chicago	Gürbüz, Sait. “Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?”. İş Ve İnsan Dergisi 2, no. 1 (April 2015): 39-57. https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.80342.
EndNote	Gürbüz S (April 1, 2015) Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?. İş ve İnsan Dergisi 2 1 39–57.
IEEE	S. Gürbüz, “Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?”, İİD, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 39–57, 2015, doi: 10.18394/iid.80342.
ISNAD	Gürbüz, Sait. “Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?”. İş ve İnsan Dergisi 2/1 (April 2015), 39-57. https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.80342.
JAMA	Gürbüz S. Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?. İİD. 2015;2:39–57.
MLA	Gürbüz, Sait. “Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?”. İş Ve İnsan Dergisi, vol. 2, no. 1, 2015, pp. 39-57, doi:10.18394/iid.80342.
Vancouver	Gürbüz S. Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?. İİD. 2015;2(1):39-57.

Generational Differences: A Myth or Reality?

Abstract

Keywords

References

Kuşak Farklılıkları: Mit mi, Gerçek mi?

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Cite

Cited By

Uluslararası Yönetim Akademisi Dergisi

Qualitative Research Journal

İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi

Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Oeconomica

Strategic Public Management Journal

Strategic Public Management Journal

Türkiye Mesleki ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Erciyes Akademi

i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology

Aksaray Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi

Pamukkale University Journal of Business Research

Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi

OPUS Journal of Society Research

Milli Eğitim Dergisi

İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi

Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi

Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi

Journal of Business in The Digital Age

Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi

Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi

Özlem OKTAL

Acibadem Universitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi

Gülfer BEKTAŞ

Atatürk Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi

İ̇nci DURSUN

OPUS Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi

Nevzat TARHAN

Sosyolojik Bağlam Dergisi

Mehmet Zeki Duman

Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Akademi Dergisi

Ece ÜNÜR

Current Psychology

Sait Gurbuz

Girişimcilik İnovasyon ve Pazarlama Araştırmaları Dergisi

Bekir TUNCER

OPUS Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi

Hacı Yunus Taş

Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Hatice BUDAK

Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi

Sezen Bozyiğit

HUMANITAS - Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Muhterem Şebnem Ensari

İşletme Bilimi Dergisi

Tuğrul Pekçetaş

OPUS Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi

Hüseyin Gümüş

Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi

Celile Ö. DÖLEKOĞLU

İş ve İnsan Dergisi

Özgür Atılgan

Uluslararası İktisadi ve İdari İncelemeler Dergisi

Celile DÖLEKOĞLU

Yorum-Yönetim-Yöntem Uluslararası Yönetim-Ekonomi ve Felsefe Dergisi

Ali Emre AYDIN

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi Dergisi

Bilgen ÖZLÜK