A Book Review of Generations at Work: Managing ... - Theduckers.org

A Book Review of
Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans,
Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace
by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines and Bob Filipczak
(280 pages. New York: AMACOM, 2000)
Zemke, Raines and Filipczak are three members of the American Management Association
who, through courageous collaboration, composed this book despite hailing from different
generations. The subtitle of this book suggests that different generations ‘clash’ on account of
their different worldviews; these authors write to promote ‘enlightened management’ that turns
such differences into positive, creative tensions.
Since this book’s publication in 2000, there has been increasing awareness of ‘generational
diversity’ and its business, social and cultural implications, as testified by the works of
Lancaster and Stillman (2003), Schnee (2004) and Gravett and Throckmorton (2007), which
cover similar territory without necessarily advancing the field. Perhaps there are generations
that need to hear the same message repeatedly before accepting its validity. Nevertheless,
the enduring popularity of this book (a Kindle version was recently launched) witnesses to the
fact that it was the first business book to seriously engage with this issue – and that it covers a
subject continuing to exercise (typically American) businesspeople.
The three sections of Generations at Work combine a sensible amount of theorising with
practical examples and seven case studies, which exemplify good generational mixes. The
criteria for cross-generational harmony are the authors’ own five ‘ACORN’ imperatives, viz.
Accommodating employee differences, Creating choices, Operating sophisticated
management, Respecting initiative and Nourishing retention. It is helpful to see these
behaviours through real-world examples, even if those examples tend to focus on just one or
two of the ACORN imperatives.
The first section lays the groundwork for the book, including brief consideration of what are
generations and then portraits (or, rather, caricatures) of the four generations currently in the
workplace, spanning the years 1922 to the present. The authors argue that with people living
– and working – longer, for the first time in history there are three and possibly four different
generations trying to coexist at work. This has led to an increase in the level of ‘star-crossed
intergenerational scenarios’ (p.15) as generations ‘have closed ranks against one another’
(p.2). Later in the book, however, we learn that this is not quite the whole story, as certain
generations may actually function rather well together – it is suggested that Nexters (born
1980-2000) have strong affinity with Veterans (born 1922-1943), though there is little
explanation why whole generations may connect in this way. The other generations examined
are the ‘self-indulgent’ Boomers (born 1943-1960) and the ‘skeptical’ Xers (born 1960-1980)
who are heavily criticised for lacking application, people skills and a strong-enough work ethic.
To some they must seem the antithesis of the American Dream that so many have worked so
hard to achieve (or mythologize).
Whilst this book’s main strength is casting light on a moderately important workplace
phenomenon, ultimately this is a book with very many weaknesses. Some of these are
peculiar to the authors – whose writing style is often clumsy and sometimes insensitive – and
some relate to this new field of generational studies. For example, is a cohort born in, say,
1980-2000 any more of a distinct group than one born in 1970-1990? The authors seem
relatively unaware of this problem, preferring their chosen periods as defined by singular
events (such as World War Two and Vietnam). The four-generation typology they try to
establish is itself undermined by occasional terms such as ‘proto-Nexters’, ‘younger boomers,’
and ‘sandwich group.’ In total, I counted eight such sub-groups but these had no formal place
within the four-generation model espoused by Zemke et al.

The authors have a partially-acknowledged debt to the considerably more robust studies of
Strauss and Howe, especially their seminal 1991 study, Generations, which attempts to trace
long-term generational cycles over six centuries. Crucially, each cycle comprises four
generations, which here would start with the Boomers and continue beyond Generation Y.
Such generational awareness is spreading into other walks of life, and has been endorsed by
those with different perspectives and specialisms. Former Evangelical Alliance Chairman Joel
Edwards (2002, xi) recently wrote that “such [generational] concerns are thoroughly biblical,”
and it is regrettable that the authors were not able to engage with broader social implications
outside of the workplace.
A better book than this would have tried to explain variations within generations; considered
how generational factors interact with other ‘diversity’ considerations such as class, gender
and race; and perhaps even considered a more continuous, less discrete typology of
generations: too many of us fall into neither one camp nor another. Still, at least one
commentator found this book helpful: a familiar-sounding ‘Robert Filipczak’ recently deigned to
give this book a full 5-star review on Amazon.com.
Christopher Ducker
December 2010
References
Edwards, Joel, “Foreword” in Hilborn, David and Bird, Matt, eds. (2002), God and the
Generations: Youth, Age and the Church Today, Carlisle: Paternoster, pp.xi-xii
Gravett, Linda and Throckmorton, Robin (2007), Bridging the Generation Gap: How to Get
Radio Babies, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers to Work Together and Achieve More,
Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press
Howe, Neil and Strauss, William (1991), Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584
to 2069, New York: Quill
Lancaster, Lynne and Stillman, David (2003) When Generations Collide: Who They Are, Why
They Clash, and How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work, New York: HarperCollins
Lupfer, Elizabeth (2010), “Five Generations at Work: Is Your Company Ready?” Available at
[Accessed 19.12.2010]
Raines, Claire (2010), “The Boomers & The Xers.” Available at
[Accessed 19.12.2010]
Raines, Claire and Arnsparger, Arleen (2010), “Millennials at Work.” Available at
[Accessed 19.12.2010]
Schnee, Pat (2004), Multigenerational Workers: Bridging the Gap, Austin, TX: University of
Texas
Zemke, Ron and Raines, Claire and Filipczak, Bob (2000), Generations at Work: Managing
the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace, New York: AMACOM
2