Introduction
Memos are written to give a brief description to the coworkers or management owners of a business within companies. They are associated to announcing proposals, or upcoming meetings as per company’s procedures. In addition, project memos can be used in addressing stages in projects such as in implementation, planning or data presentation of a project (Ash, 305). In this project memo, a description on what will be carried out, upon its acceptance, in terms of purpose, research questions, methods of research, and the merits shall be discussed in order to convince the professor into accepting the project” Generation Gap at Work”.
Discussion
- Purpose of study
In the world, there are distinct generations in work places with each one of them having different views combined with work ethics. Some people or participants are loyal and fearful to the companies, whereas others are steady pay-checkers. Generation Gap at work places has been a major emerging issue in our today world. The attitudes towards work, management of style and communication methods are issues to be integrated in this research project. The issues regarding generation gaps at work places in lines of ethnicity need be addressed with an immediate effect to reduce this gap. Hence, the requirement and purpose for this project proposal.
- The problem of study
In any working environment, we have different groups of individuals with different views concerning duties in places of working. For instance, considering these types of individuals in the work environment gives a justification for the problem of study in this research proposal.
The other group of people is the Baby Boomers who have a strong work ethics. They are not loyal to the companies they work in and in addition, they have strong believes in education. When it comes to management issues, the boomers believe in meetings, and that all employees should feel part of the team in considering the annual progress reports. They are available 24/7 on the phone and in emails. The great juxtaposition is that the boomers have strong ethnic views in work places, and this means that they regard themselves better that people from other ethnic groups. Working together in organizations especially as team players should a slogan if companies need to progress and achieve better results. To resolve this problem, there is a necessity to come up with this project proposal in order to ensure that ethnicity is eradicated from work environs.
There is another category of generations called generation X. These individuals work best in companies, but a fresh idea comes up, they go for it. It means that they work so hard in achieving the company requirements while keeping an eye on any opportunity that may arise elsewhere. These people will never understand why they should care about company traditions. Although they work hard for the company, they will never hesitate to switch jobs in case a better one comes up. These people will give the best of the results if given freedom of being creative. The aspect of being hardworking, creative and innovative makes them vital. On the other hand, if these people would be keeping an eye outside and they move anytime, it becomes a threat to the company. Generation x generally consists of people constantly on he go. The members of this generation consider themselves as nothing short of go getters their loyalties lie with no one but themselves. This means that they put themselves first and everyone else including the company that they work for come second. The modes of communication of this generation is also revolutionary to say the least. These are the people you more often than not find always staring at screens in the work place and never use paper as a mode of communication or storage of data and information. For this generation everything is by all means digitalized. This means that their lives are lived to the fullest on line. Whenever members of this generation encounter a problem be it in the work place or elsewhere they are quick to share this problem with their peers on social media. This is because for members of this generation social media is everything. You can find out more about a member of this generation on social media than you can find on their curriculum vitae or any other government record on them. Members of this generation form forums on social media where they discuss all issues and aspects of their lives ranging from work to social life and even to personal life. They are very social people but not in person. They barely speak more than just a few words in person yet on social media they start up thousands of conversations with each passing day. The amazing thing about members of this generation is their amazing skill and general prowess in the work place.to say that members of this generation do a perfect job would be a huge understatement and perhaps the largest understatement of all time.as far as members of this generation are concerned perfection is everything. They are perfectionists and their perfectionism reflects in their work.t5his therefore makes them invaluable members of the work place environment. This is because they produce the best results within the shortest time possible. Their work is exemplary to say the least. The only problem they have in terms of work is their wavering loyalty. This therefore makes their dependability at work very questionable because there is always the possibility that they might get a better opportunity at any time and this means that they will leave immediately without any second thought.in order to prevent this the management has to engage in a series of appeasement exercises for example giving them bonuses and making their lives in the work place environment very comfortable so as to ensure their prolonged stay in a given work place.
The last part of people are called generation Y. This people believe that they have a lot of ideas and that they need to perform so that results will follow. They love their workplaces too much until they get bored. They believe in working from homes so long as the work gets done in time. They rarely check mail boxes and would always wish to meet people physically. The amazing thing about members of generation y is that though seemingly lazy with their wishes to work at home and everything the reverse is actually true. Members of generation y are all about speed and efficiency. These are the people who can get a lot of work done in the shortest time possible and the amazing thing is that they can di this from the comfort of their home. They just so happen to be very enthusiastic with their jobs and tasks they are given in the workplace. This is because members of this generation have this inherent need to prove themselves. This means that when given a task in the work place they take it as a personal challenge. They will perform their tasks to the very best of their abilities and produce some of the best results ever seen in the work place. They do this in order to prove to themselves as well as to their superiors that they are indeed capable and fully competent enough to perform any work place tasks that are required of them in good time and to the best quality available in all the job market. There is only one down side as far as this generation is concerned and that is the alarming rates at which they get bored either with their jobs or other aspects of their lives.in order to ensure that members of this generation stay on their toes and are always alert as far as their work is concerned versatility is everything. This means that members of this generation should not be required to do the same thing over and over again every day for a very long time. Their tasks in the work place should be diversified from day to day. This will ensure that they do not get bored and therefore remain productive and on top of their game as far as work is concerned for a very long time. Ideas need to be borrowed, and nobody is self-actualized in terms of ideas. There is a need to work as a team to promote management issues, thus becomes an idea in this project proposal.
- Solutions
Considering methods of communication to the veterans, advising them that nobody can work alone to realizing organizational or company targets, avoiding an external eye to other opportunities since people need to concentrate in one business only, and also looking for ways of reducing Gap generations at work places should the major solutions in this case. The other solutions can: Awareness to preferred styles of work, Be aware of preferred work styles, adopting effective communication skills, making workers understand life expectations, and recognizing different reactions to conflict resolutions.
The workers should also be taught to be tolerant of other workers who are not members of their generation and who may have very different points of view from them not only about work but also about all other aspects of life. This point should especially be emphasized when dealing with the veterans. This is because the veterans are very anti-social unless of course they are dealing with a fellow veteran. They will more often than not give a cold shoulder to their younger work colleagues. The veterans are also very intolerant to their younger work colleagues. This can be blamed almost entirely on the irritability of the veterans. The veterans are easily irritable and the slightest of things can send them into a frenzy filled with rage and elements of irrationality, and not mild elements at that. Tolerance should therefore be a point of emphasis as far as the work place environment is concerned. The younger generations should also be taught to be very tolerant and patient as far as the veterans and all their dealings are concerned. They should do their best not to provoke any ill emotions from the veterans. They should also offer aid to the veterans whenever they can. This is because the veterans are ever in need of help and of course they always keep quiet about it and never ask for the help that they need.
- Audience
The audience referred to in this case is the lecturer or professor. Another type of audience probably is the management and workers in a business. To start with this proposal is directed to the professor who will go through it and if found substantial, he will approve it so that the project itself can be carried out. The other type of audience is the workers in the organization in which the proposal is featuring with the aim of looking for ways of reducing the generation gaps at work places. This proposal is also aimed at all aspiring workers be they recent graduates or students still in school. This is because the proposal is an eye opener and serves to prepare people for the work place environment and all the various challenges as well as difficulties that may be encountered at work.
- Benefits
If the proposed proposal goes through, then most of the companies will perform better in terms of profit making. This is because, in many cases there are organizations, which have been, shut down due to poor performances, workers moving in and out anytime and no concentration in work places. Two, if we do away with these gaps, then it implies that output will be substantial in the sense that people shall be working together as teams to realize good returns. This proposal also works towards cohesion in the work place. This cohesion is in the sense that with all workers tolerant to each other and working together as a cohesive team then the work place ceases to be more than a mere place of work but takes the paradigms of a true family. This will make the workers more comfortable with each other and with their work hence higher productivity.
- Background information
In most of the organizations in the world including government ministries, corporate organizations, hotels, companies, and private organizations, have experienced not only a shutdown in their operations, but also negatively contributed to society in terms of performance. They end up performing poor resulting to break ups which are caused by poor management and insolvency as workers do not cooperate in work places, hence, impacting on the output as a result of existence in generation gaps, in work places. For example, this background information can be inferred to the Sweet Waters Club found in Los Angeles.
- Questions for the research
The big question in this research is what are the strategies that the organization should implement so that the generation gap in work can be reduced? In addition, what will be effects of reducing the gap in organizational performance?
- Research methods
- Primary research
There is a likelihood of designing a questionnaire to help in data collection. This is one of the primary sources of data collection that is valid in this proposal (Lerner et al, 254). A questionnaire designed should be passed around in one of the workplaces in order to give the workers, managers, and other stakeholders to fill them. The data collected shall be analyzed, and the results obtained. Examples of questions likely to be asked include; the age, ethnic group where one is coming from, work/ position he is holding, do he/ she think that there exists generational gaps, and what are the suggestions about it if any.
A preplanned work interview might also work better in this case, but it will depend if all the respondents will be available. A questionnaire is the best since it gives respondents time to think on what to write compared to an immediate interview in which some workers might give wrong information since they might in one way or the other be busy and might not want to disclose all the information.
- If an option comes about to look for information using secondary sources, it will be advisable that books, journals, magazines, and published articles so long as they relate to the topic under discussion,” Generation Gap in work ”, will be of great importance in this situation.
- Costs associated to the solutions
In this project, costs have to be incurred like those of designing and printing questionnaires, travelling to distribute the questionnaires to and fro to the specific audience, and other small miscellaneous expenses, which in request, need to be taken into consideration and funded for in order to allow the project be successful. A rough estimate will be around $ 2000 for the whole project to be realized.
Conclusion
This research project is designed to bring equity, cooperation, and high and improved performances in workplaces. It is my believe that once this proposal goes through and be endorsed by the professor, substantial work in determining generation gaps in work places and the possible solutions shall be achieved. Being optimistic to every assignment and realistic is the goal of this proposal.
Work cited
Ash, N. (2012). Memos. Blommington, Ind: AuthorHouse.
Lerner, K. L., Lerner, B. W., Lerner, A. W., & Thomson Gale (Firm). (2006). Family in society: Essential primary sources. Detroit, Mich: Thomson Gale.
Zemke, Ron, Claire Raines, and Bob Filipczak. The Generations at Work Places: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, Nexters in Your Workplace. New York: AMACOM, 1999. Print
Showdown at generation gap. Dir. anthony mark. Perf. lee harvey. CorVision Media, 2000. DVD.
