Five Generations at Work
Author: Rebecca Robins & Patrick Dunne
Publisher: Wiley (Sept 2024)
ISBN-10 : 139425220X
Pages: 272
Rebecca Robins is a leading advisor, changemaker and expert on brand leadership and intergenerational collaboration. She is known for her transformative work on culture, change and the five-generation workplace.
Patrick Dunne OBE is an experienced Chair, serial social entrepreneur, author of the award-winning book Boards and a leading expert and advisor on boards and governance. He is Chair of the charities The Royal Voluntary Service and ESSA-Education Sub Saharan Africa, a Visiting Professor at Cranfield University.
The book explores the fact that for the first time in history we have five distinct generations at work. These five generations are commonly known as Boomers (1946-1964), to Gen Alfer (2013 to present day). The book focuses on how different generations are interacting at work and how we can move away from current divisive, stereotype-fuelled discourse to something which positively harnesses the power of both their differences and diversity. In essence a move from an “Other” mindset to a “Together” mindset.
The authors explore intergenerational collaboration in the worlds continents and discuss the variances. They also look at the impact of family businesses and use the example of the longest established Japan family business established in 718 AD and continues to thrive to this day. The book explores the drivers behind the model of success and sustainability of these businesses. The sheer scale of the influence of family businesses is such that two thirds of companies globally are family owned and generate70% of the worlds GDP.
The book contains a multitude of case studies and conversations with many world-wide businesses and fully describes their origins and current structures and mode of operation.
The book stresses the need to place great value on the accumulated knowledge and expertise that exists that we can learn from and ensure knowledge transfer within companies and organisations. It explores the need to learn from family businesses who have maintained the balance between tradition and innovation. It explores how knowledge and skills need to be carried forward from one generation to the next.