A Study of Work Values and the Interactions Among Generations

• Main Authors: Shiau-Yu Chen, 陳筱育
• Other Authors: Ju-Chun Chu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/58990724266087362935

碩士 === 國立臺灣科技大學 === 技術及職業教育研究所 === 92 === In this rapidly changing society, different generations of employees have different attitudes towards their careers. There are without doubt, generation gaps within the career market. The purpose of this research is to investigate the work values and the interactions among employees of different generations in Taiwan. By studying and comparing different work values of different generations, this research aims to examine the influence of the socioeconomic background in relation to the overall development and transformation of work values. It explores the interactions among generations and examines their influences on the changes of work values. As to data collection, this research applies a half-structured method by interviewing eleven workers of different generations. Based on the cross-reference of the literatures reviewed and the results collected from interviewees, the study comes up with eight most important propositions: 1.The major generational differences of work values include utilitarianism, collectivism, fairness, responsibility, innovation, ethics, interpersonal relationship, and learning motivation. 2.The generational transition of work values is a continuously circulated process, which is influenced by “personal career development” and “actual work experience.” 3.The generational differences of work values are determined by the structure of the society, the educational environment, and the career marketplace in the past. Hence, they reflect the social development in Taiwan. 4.While the society changes with extreme speed, different generations are drawn closer to each other. 5.The relationship between different generational work values is an interactive and dynamic one. 6.Emphasizing on informal communications among different generations is becoming a new trend, although private friendship is still avoided because of the problems of social roles. 7.The specific position of the so-called “fifth-grade employees,” resulted from their specific life experiences, has encouraged their purposeful differentiation between playful friends and helpful friends. 8.In order to earn respectability and loyalty from the younger generation, the management will have to learn to accept diverse suggestions of the subordinates and to work on their charisma.