Exploring Managers’ Perception Towards Generation Y Employees: A Case Study in an IT Company in Selangor
Abstract
This study was conducted to explore the manager’s perception towards Generation Y employees particularly in the IT industry in Selangor. A case study approach was adopted in which data was obtained through semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling technique was used and a total of eight (8) informants participated and interviewed. The data obtained from the interview were qualitatively analyzed. Data analysis was conducted by adopting a content analysis framework in which obtained data were divided into four (4) phases including condensation, code, category and inference and summarize. The findings showed majority of the managers perceived that openness to experience, conscientious and extraversion’ are the most common personalities among Generation Y employees. Besides that, the findings also revealed that in terms of work ethics, Generation Y employees are perceived as accountable of own’s actions, respect authority, transparency and loyal. The result of this study implicates the organization in terms of attrition and turnover rate among Generation Y employees and organizational branding. The result of this study provided some recommendations to HR practitioners and organizations in managing and handling at the workplace.
Keywords: Generation Y; Managers; Personalities; Work ethics; Work values
References
Abu Hassan, Z., Schattner, P., & Mazza, D. (2006). Doing a pilot study: Why is it essential? Malaysian Family Physician, 1(2), 70-73.
Allison, S. (2013). Employment and the millennial. Youth Studies Australia, 32(2), 81-84.
Alsop, R. (2008). The trophy kids grow up: How the Millennial generation is shaking up the workplace. USA: EBESCO.
Alwin, D. F. & McCammon, R. J. (2003) Generations, cohorts, and social change, in J.T. Mortimer and M.J. Shanahan (Eds.) Handbook of the Life Course. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research, Boston, MA: Boston.
Angeline, T. (2011). Managing generational diversity at the workplace expectations and perceptions of different generation's expectations and perceptions of different generations. African Journal of Business Management, 5(2), 249-255.
Balc, A. & Bozkurt, S. (2013). Job Expectations of Generation X and Y Teachers in Turkey. World Applied Sciences Journal, 21(4), 599-614.
Bannon, S., Ford, K., & Meltzer, L. (2011). Understanding Millennials in the workplace. The CPA Journal, 81(11), 61-65.
Barker V. (2012). A generational comparison of social networking site use: The influence of age and social identity. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 74, 163-187.
https://doi.org/10.2190/AG.74.2.d
Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K. (1991). The Big Five Personality Dimensions and Job Performance: A Meta-Analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44(1), 1-26.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1991.tb00688.x
Behrens, W. (2009). Managing Millennials. Marketing Health Services, 29(1), 19-21.
Bennett, G., Henson, R., & Zhang, I. (2003). Generation Y perceptions of the action sports industry segment. Journal of Sport Management,17(2), 95-115.
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.17.2.95
Black, J., Smith, Y. S., & Keels, K. J. (2014). The millennial generation and personal accountability: spiritual and classroom implications. Research Gate, 31-43. Retrieved from: https//www. Researchgate.net/publication/273774098
Balda, J. B., & Mora, F. (2011). Adapting leadership theory and practice for the networked, Millennial generation. Journal of Leadership Studies, 5(3), 13-24.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.20229
Bobbitt-Zeher, D. (2011). Gender discrimination at work: Connecting gender stereotypes, institutional policies, and gender composition of workplace. Gender and Society, 25(6), 764-786.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243211424741
Bolden, R. (2011). Distributed leadership in organizations: A review of theory and research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13(3), 251-269.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2011.00306.x
Bolton, R. N., Pasasuraman, A., Hoefnagels, A., Migchels, N., Kabadayi, S., Cruber, T., Komarova, Y. & Solnet, D. (2013). Understanding Generation Y and their use of social media: A review and research agenda. Journal of Service Management, 21(3), 245-267.
https://doi.org/10.1108/09564231311326987
Brown, S., Carter, B., Collins, M., Gallerson, C., Giffin, G., Greer, J., Griffith, R., Johnson, E., & Richardson, K. (2009). Generation Y in the workplace. Journal of The Bush School of Government and Public Services, 1 - 56.
Buckley, P., Viechnicki, P., & Barua, A. (2015, October 16). A new understanding of Millennials: Generational differences re-examined. Retrieved from: https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/us/en/economy/issues-by-the-numbers/understanding-millennials-generational-differences.html
Cahill, T., & Sedrak, M. (2012). Leading a Multigenerational Workforce: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Millennials. Frontiers of Health Services Management, 29(1), 3-15.
https://doi.org/10.1097/01974520-201207000-00002
Campbell, W. K., Rudich, E. A., & Sedikides, C. (2002). Narcissism, self-Esteem, and the positivity of self-views: Two Portraits of self-love. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(3), 358-368.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167202286007
Carpenter, J. M., & Moore, M. (2005). Consumer preferences for retail formats: Implications for tenant mix strategies. Journal of Shopping Center Research, 12(1), 1-21.
Cavanagh, S. (1997). Content analysis: concepts, methods and applications. Nurse Researcher, 4(3), 5-16.
https://doi.org/10.7748/nr1997.04.4.3.5.c5869
Cekada, T. L. (2012). Training a multigenerational workforce. Professional Safety, 57(3), 40-44.
Cohen, L. et al. (2007). Research methods in education. New York: Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203029053
Cole, G., Lucas, L., & Smith, R. (2002). The debut of generation y in the american workforce. Journal of Business Administration Online, 1(2), 1-10.
Cone, C. (2006, October 24). Civic-minded Millennials prepared to reward or punish companies based on commitment to social causes. Retrieved from: http://www.csrwire.com/press/ press_release/19346CivicMindedMillennials-Prepared-to-Reward-orPunish Companies-Based-on-Commitmentto-Social-Causes
Connolly, J. J., & Viswesvaran, C. (2000). The role of affectivity in job satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 265-281.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00192-0
Considine, D., Horton, J. & Moorman, G. (2009). Teaching and reading the Millennial generation through media literacy. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(6), 471- 481.
https://doi.org/10.1598/JAAL.52.6.2
Costa, Jr., P., T., & McCrae, R.R. (1992a). Normal personality assessment in clinical practice: the NEO personality inventory. Psychological Assessment, 4, 5-13.
https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.4.1.5
Dass, A. (August 6, 2018). Star Online: Young and jobless in Malaysia. Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/ business-news/2018/08/06/young-and-jobless-in-malaysia/
Davis, J. A. (2004). Did growing up in the 1960s leave a permanent mark on attitudes and values? Evidence from the general social survey. Public Opinion Quarterly, 68(2), 161-183.
https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfh010
Davis, P. J., Frolova, Y., & Callahan, W. (2016). Workplace diversity management in Australia. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 35(2), 81-98.
https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-03-2015-0020
Department of statistics (2018). Key statistics of labour force in Malaysia. Retrieved from: https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=124&bul_id=cm02cVo0c1pIY24wQmJxYVhyeTlvdz09&menu_id=U3VPMldoYUzVzFaYmNkWXZteGduZz09
Digman, J. M. (1990). Personality Structure: Emergence of the Five-Factor Model. Annual Review of Psychology, 41(1), 417-440.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.41.020190.002221
Edmunds, J. & Turner, B.S. (2002). Generations, culture and society. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Eisner, S. P. (2005). Managing Generation Y. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 70(4), 4-15.
Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107-115.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
Employment Act 1955. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/docs/1496/Employment%20Act %201955.pdf
Etikan, I., Abubakar S., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics. 5(1), 1-4.
https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Evans, B. (2011). The millennial generation is productive in the workplace. In D. Haugen & S. Musser (Eds.). The Millennial generation. (pp. 56-65). Greenhaven Press.
Folkman, J. (May 22, 2014). Does Gen Y Really Want Honest Feedback? Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joefolkman/2014/05/22/does-gen-y-really-want-honest-feed back/#1af768005b41
Gavatorta, S. (2012). It's a Millennial thing. T+D, 66(3), 58-65.
Giancola, F. (2006). "The generation gap: more myth than reality?". Human Resource Planning, 29(4), 32-37.
Goldberg, L.R., 1990. An alternative "description of personality". The Big-Five factor structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 1216-1229.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.59.6.1216
Guba, E. G. (1981) Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educational Communication and Technology Journal, 29(2), 75-91.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766777
Gursoy, D., Maier, T. A. & Chi, C. G. (2008). Generational differences: An examination of work values and generational gaps in the hospitality workforce. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 21(2008), 448-458.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2007.11.002
Hansen, M. (2019, March 14). Myths We Need to Completely Leave Behind in 2019. Retrieved from: https://elearningindustry.com/elearning-myths-2019-complete ly-leave-behind
Harber, J. G. (2011). Generations in the workplace: Similarities and differences. Electronic Theses and Dissertations Paper 1255. Retrieved from: http://dc.etsu.edu/ etd/1255.
Hesse-Biber, S. & Leavy, P. (2006). The practice of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Hewitt, A. & Larson, S. (2007). The direct support workforce in community supports to individuals with developmental disabilities: Issues, implications and promising practices. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 13(4), 178-187.
https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.20151
Higginbottom, K. (2016, March 17). The challenges of managing a multi-generational workforce. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites /karenhigginbottom/2016/03/17/thechallenges-of-managing-a-multi-generationalworkforce /#7573c307d6ac
Hite, L.M., and McDonald, K.S. (2008). A new era for career development and HRD. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(1), 3-7.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422307310103
Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2003). Millennials go to college. Washington, DC: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Huntley, R. (2006). The World according to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Inglehart, R. F. (2008) Changing values among western publics from 1970 to 2006, West European Politics, 31(1), 130- 146.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380701834747
Inkson, K. (2006). Protean and boundaryless careers as metaphors. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 69(3), 48-63.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2005.09.004
Josiam, B. M., Crutsinger, C., Reynolds, J. S., Dotter, T. V., Thozhur, S., Baum, T., & Devine, F. G. (2009). An empirical study of the work attitudes of Generation Y college students in the Usa: The case of hospitality and merchandising undergraduate majors. Journal of Services Research, 9(1), 5-30.
Kar, S. (2018). Managing generation y employees - Hr challenges and opportunities. In Sambrham Academy and Management Studies.
Kilber, J., Barclay, A., & Ohmer, D. (2014). Seven tips for managing generation y. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 15(4), 80-91.
Komarraju, M., Karau, S.J., Schmeck, R.R., & Avdic, A. (2011). The Big Five personality traits, learning styles, and academic achievement. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(2), 472-477
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.019
Kowske, B. J., Rasch, R., & Wiley, J. (2010). Millennials' (lack of) attitude problem: an empirical examination of generational effects on work attitudes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 265-279.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9171-8
Kupperschmidt, B. R. (2000). Multigeneration employees: strategies for effective management. The Health Care Manager, 19(2), 65-76.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00126450-200019010-00011
Kvale, S. (1996). Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Leo, J. (2003). The good-news generation. U.S. News & World Report, 135(15), 60-61.
Lindsay, P., & Norman, D. A. (1977). Human information processing: An introduction to psychology. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Lyons, S., & Kuron, L. (2013). Generational differences in the workplace: A review of the evidence and directions for future research. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35(S1), S139-S157.
https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1913
Lyons, S.T., Schweitzer, L., and Ng, E.S. (2015). How have careers changed? An investigation of changing career patterns across four generations. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(1), 8-21.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-07-2014-0210
Mannheim, K. (1952). The problem of generations. Essays on The Sociology of Knowledge. London: RKP.
Markert, J. (2004) Demographics of age: generational and cohort confusion. Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising, 26(2), 11-25.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10641734.2004.10505161
Martin, C. A. and Tulgan, B. (2002). Managing the Generational Mix. Amherst, MA: HRD Press.
McCrae, R. R., & John, O. P. (1992). An introduction to the five-factor model and its applications. Journal of Personality, 60, 175-215.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1992.tb00970.x
McCrae, R.R., Costa, P.T., Jr., & Yik, M. S. M. (1996). Universal aspects of Chinese personality structure. In M. H. Bond (Ed.), The handbook of Chinese psychology (pp.189-207). Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.
Mohare, R., & Agrawal, A. (2016). A perceptional study of expectations of generation y for work life balance- With special reference to IT industries, Nagpur. Indira Management Review, 3(1), 23-26.
Miller, A. (1991). Personality types, learning styles, and educational goals. Educational Psychology, 11(4), 217-238.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0144341910110302
Minaar, L. 2014. A manager's perspective on generation Y in the hospitality industry in Finland. Bachelor's thesis.
Naim, M. F. & Lenka, U. (2018). Development and retention of Generation Y employees: A conceptual framework. Employee Relations, 40(2), 433-455.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-09-2016-0172
Patterson, C. (2007). The impact of generational diversity in the workplace. The Diversity Factor, 15(3), 17-22.
Raines, S. C., & Alberg, M. S. (2003). The role of professional development in preparing academic leaders. New Directions for Higher Education, (124), 33-39.
https://doi.org/10.1002/he.128
Ranaweera, C., & Dharmasiri, A. (2016). Generation y and their job performance. Sri Lankan Journal of Management, 21(1), 39-82.
Rusli, A., & Hasbee, U. (2011). Conducting research in social sciences, humanities, economics and management studies. Sarawak, Malaysia: RS Group Publishing House.
Ryder, N. B. (1965). The cohort as a concept in the study of social change. American Sociological Review, 30(2), 834-836.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2090964
Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R. (2010). Research methods for business: A skill building approach (Fifth Edition). Cornwall, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Sessa, V. I., Kabacoff, R. I., Deal, J. and Brown, H. (2007) Generational differences in leader values and leadership behaviors. The Psychologist-Manager Journal, 10(1), 47-74.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10887150709336612
Sheldon, W.H. (1914). An Empirical Definition of Value. The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods, 11(5), 113-124.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2012364
Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(3), 63-75.
https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
Smith, T.J. & Nichlos, T. (2015). Understanding the Millennial generation. Journal of Business Diversity, 15(1), 39-47.
Smola, K. W. & Sutton, C. D. (2002). Generational differences: revisiting generational work values for the new millennium. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23(2), 363-382.
https://doi.org/10.1002/job.147
Stein, J. (2013, May 21). Millennials: The me me me generation. Retrieved from: http://time.com/247/millennials-the-me-me-me-generation/
Sujansky, J. (2004). Leading a multi-generational workforce. Occupational Health & Safety, 73(4), 16-18.
Suleman, R., & Nelson, B. (2011). Motivating the millennials: tapping into the potential of the youngest generation. Leader to Leader, 62(1), 39-44. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ltl.491/abstract
https://doi.org/10.1002/ltl.491
Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling methods in research methodology: How to choose a sampling technique for research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management (IJARM), 5(2), 18-27.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3205035
Tessema, M., Ready, K., & Embaye, A. (2013). The effects of employee recognition pay and benefits on job satisfaction:Ccross country evidence. Journal of Business and Economics, 4 (1), 1-13.
Tolbzie, A. (2008). Generational differences in the workplace. Research and Training Center of Community Living, 19, 1-13.
Trzesniewski, K. H., Donnellan, M. B., & Robins, R. W. (2008). Is Generation Me Really More Narcissistic Than Previous Generations? Journal of Personality, 76(4), 903-918.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00508.x
Twenge, J. M. (2006). Generation me: Why today's young Americans are more confident, assertive, entitled--and more miserable than ever before. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, S. M. (2008). Generational differences in psychological traits and their impact on the workplace. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(8), 862-877.
https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940810904367
Twenge, J. M., Konrath, S., Foster, J. D., Campbell, W. K., & Bushman, B. J. (2008b). Further evidence of an increase in narcissism among college students. Journal of Personality, 76(1), 919-927.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00509.x
Twenge, J. M. (2010). A review of the empirical evidence on generational differences in work attitudes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25(2), 201-210.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9165-6
Ulman, Y. I. (2015). Social Ethics. In Encyclopedia pf Global Bioethics (10th ed., pp. 1-11). Publisher: Springer, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_395-1
Vejar, C. (2008). Generation y: Educational considerations. EBSCO Research Starters.
Wallace, H. M., & Baumeister, R. F. (2002). The performance of narcissists rises and falls with perceived opportunity for glory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(5), 819-834.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.5.819
Weston, M. (2006). Integrating generational perspectives in nursing. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 11(2), 22-25.
https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol11No02Man01
Wiant, Chris J. (1999, October.). Are you listening to your employees? Journal of Environmental Health, 62(3), 51-52.
Wong, M., Gardiner, E., & Lang, W. (2008). Generational differences in personality and motivation: Do they exist and what are the implications for. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(8), 878-890.
https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940810904376
Yigit, S. & Aksay, K. (2015). A comparison between Generation X and Generation Y in terms of individual innovativeness behavior: The case of Turkish Health Professionals. International Journal of Business Administration, 6(2), 106-117
https://doi.org/10.5430/ijba.v6n2p106
Zaleznik, A. (2004). Managers and Leaders: Are They Different? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2004/01/ managers-and-leaders-are-they-different.
Zaslow, J. (2007). The most-praised generation goes to work. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117702894815776259
Zemke, R., Raines, C., & Filipczak, B. (2000). Generations at work: Managing the clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in your workplace. New York, NY: AMACOM.
Zvikaite-Rotting, O. (2007). Generation gap: Resolving conflicts between generations. Retrieved from http://www.orinta-z-roetting.de/Generation%20Gap%20Artikle.pdf
Copyright Transfer Statement for Journal
1) In signing this statement, the author(s) grant UNIMAS Publisher an exclusive license to publish their original research papers. The author(s) also grant UNIMAS Publisher permission to reproduce, recreate, translate, extract or summarize, and to distribute and display in any forms, formats, and media. The author(s) can reuse their papers in their future printed work without first requiring permission from UNIMAS Publisher, provided that the author(s) acknowledge and reference publication in the Journal.
2) For open access articles, the author(s) agree that their articles published under UNIMAS Publisher are distributed under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work of the author(s) is properly cited.
3) The author(s) is/are responsible to ensure his or her or their submitted work is original and does not infringe any existing copyright, trademark, patent, statutory right, or propriety right of others. Corresponding author(s) has (have) obtained permission from all co-authors prior to submission to the journal. Upon submission of the manuscript, the author(s) agree that no similar work has been or will be submitted or published elsewhere in any language. If submitted manuscript includes materials from others, the authors have obtained the permission from the copyright owners.
4) In signing this statement, the author(s) declare(s) that the researches in which they have conducted are in compliance with the current laws of the respective country and UNIMAS Journal Publication Ethics Policy. Any experimentation or research involving human or the use of animal samples must obtain approval from Human or Animal Ethics Committee in their respective institutions. The author(s) agree and understand that UNIMAS Publisher is not responsible for any compensational claims or failure caused by the author(s) in fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements. The author(s) must accept the responsibility for releasing their materials upon request by Chief Editor or UNIMAS Publisher.
5) The author(s) should have participated sufficiently in the work and ensured the appropriateness of the content of the article. The author(s) should also agree that he or she has no commercial attachments (e.g. patent or license arrangement, equity interest, consultancies, etc.) that might pose any conflict of interest with the submitted manuscript. The author(s) also agree to make any relevant materials and data available upon request by the editor or UNIMAS Publisher.
