Title
Stereotype-Free Mixed Birth Generation Workplaces: A Grounded Theory Study of Behavior Patterns
Department
Organization Development
Date of Paper/Work
2011
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Organization Development (Ed.D.)
Type of Paper/Work
Dissertation
Advisors
John Conbere; Alla Heorhiadi; Eleni Roulis
Abstract
Limited job opportunities, later retirements and longer life spans had combined to create unique mixed-birth generation workplaces in America; three and sometimes four different generations of employees were working together toward the same organization goals and objectives. A popular management trend was to call attention to predicted conflict that might result and then recommend mixed-birth generation management strategies by stereotyping birth generation behaviors in the workplace and prescribing stereotyped approaches for each. In response to a concern with providing yet another opportunity to stereotype people in the workplace, the purpose of this study was to surface a theory that supported a new way of thinking about mixed-birth generation American workplaces through the discovery of stereotype-free workplace behavior patterns. In answer to the research question, “How do organizations create and sustain stereotype-free mixed-birth generation workplaces,” this research built theory grounded in the voices, actions and experiences of 18 people from different birth generations who worked with other generations of people in for-profit and non-profit organizations in the United States Midwest. Through Charmaz’ (2006) Constructivist Grounded Theory analysis of participant shared experiences, a theory emerged suggesting that a Fostering Work Climate regularly fed by contributing personal and organization culture factors would ultimately demonstrate the characteristics that both created and sustained a stereotype-free mixed-birth generation workplace.
Keywords
Mixed-birth generation workplaces, stereotyping, work climates
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Halverson, Linda Carey, "Stereotype-Free Mixed Birth Generation Workplaces: A Grounded Theory Study of Behavior Patterns" (2011). Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization Development. 7.
https://ir.stthomas.edu/caps_ed_orgdev_docdiss/7