“The World at Their Fingertips” – Director Article, Nov 2006
Millennials are:
- Collaborators
- Web 2.0 sites and their collaborative information sharing represent an interactive approach to the Internet which is dominated by millennial users
- Content Creators
- Millennials expect to contribute and be heard, they expect the influence their technological world, Wikipedia, Facebook, MySpace … all point to a culture of input and influence . This culture extends beyond the home.
- Social Networkers
- Work is not based on processes, not instruction from above or boss/worker relationships.
- “I see nothing less than a new breed of human being, they’re surfing a wave of information and connections and their skill is in absorbing only the most relevant snippets.
- Tech Experts
- Smart discriminate users of technology, want to open a tool, use it and close it, want it to work their way out of the box or with minimal configuration.
- Informal
- Email is OK … for everything, they will not like formal communication protocols.
- This is a generation which will not ‘know its place’
- Management need to find ways to collaborate and tap this sense of freedom and creativity.
- Nomadic
- Can and will work anywhere.
- Loved this quote (adapted for CA) ‘ Try telling millennial workers (who know they can be just as effective working at home) that they need to spend 2 hours on i80 to get to their desk by 9:00am and their resume will be out before you can say “work/life balance” ‘
- Future Leaders …
- .… or dictatorial rabble?
- Management structures will evolve, but those who understand the skills the millennial brings to the workplace and can adjust to play to their strengths will reap the rewards of the emerging knowledge economy.
Technology, Society, Work & Play 