Human resources consultant Bette Price has
developed the term "gen-blending" to describe the mixing of people
from various generations at workplaces. These employees work
together as equals to address company issues. "The goal is to
collectively brainstorm in order to identify problems and get a
broader vision of the company," says Price, who is publishing a
book on the topic. Gen-blending typically involves three
generations--Baby Boomers born in the 1940s and 1950s, Generation
Xers born in the 1960s and 1970s, and Millennials or Generation
Yers born in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2008, media firm Time Warner
started a program called digital reverse mentoring where university
students tutor senior executives about using such tools as Facebook
and Twitter. Similar efforts are emerging in sectors like finance
and commercial services, but are mostly concentrated in energy,
engineering, and technology companies, says Price. This is because
there is a greeter need for knowledge transfer at those firms.
where there is greater need for technical knowledge transfer. Many
firms continue to offer traditional programs where senior employees
mentor junior employees, which experts say lets senior employees
feel engaged.
Click Here to read the entire Financial Times article by
Rebecca Knight.
Happy Learning!