Australia’s Changing Workplace:
A Generational Perspective
A Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
of
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Roslyn M. Sayers
AdvDip.Bus(Int’l Trade), BBus (Int’l Bus)(Hon.)
School of Economics, Finance and Marketing
Business Portfolio
RMIT University
June 2006
I
DECLARATION
I certify that except where due acknowledgment has been made, the work is that of the
candidate alone; the work has not been submitted previously, in whole on in part , to
qualify for any other academic award; the content of the thesis is the result of the work
which has been carried out since the official commencement date of the approved research
program; and, any editorial work, paid or unpaid, carried out by a third party is
acknowledged.
…………………………..
Roslyn M. Sayers
30 June 2006
II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to acknowledge the assistance of the Australian Government, in providing the Australian
Postgraduate Award (APA) which contributed substantial funding enabling me to conduct this
research and complete my doctorial studies. I would like to acknowledge RMIT University’s
School of Economics, Finance & Marketing and the Research Development and Innovation Units
for their support and funding, with special thank to Prof Tim Fry (Research Director) and Prof
Tony Naughton (Head of School). To Prof Robert Brooks and Prof Sinclair Davidson for
believing in 2003, that I would complete this research.
To my supervisory team, Dr Roslyn Russell (first supervisor), thank you for your continuing
support and interest in my research. Your time and effort over the past three years are greatly
appreciated and something I will never forget. To Dr Jenny Diggle (second supervisor), thank you
for your support and encouragement over the past five years, through my Honours and PhD. I
greatly appreciated all that you have done for me. To Prof Bruce Wilson (consultative supervisor)
thank you for providing me with much needed advice and direction at a very difficult time in my
data collection stage.
Special thanks and acknowledgement goes to the four Australian organisations and their employees
who took part in this research. To the staff that assisted in coordinating the 75 employees and 15
executives, thank you for your assistance. Thank you to the participants and executives for your
openness and frank insight into your world of work. Also a special thanks to the ten expert
practitioners - Suzanne Jessup, Jo Mithen, Bernard Salt, Sarina Sorrenti, Ben Hudson, Angela
Gamble, Peter Sheldrake, Katrina Hudson, Anna Razza and Garry Doyle. Your insights were
invaluable and assisted greatly in moving this research into the second stage.
Thank you to Margaret Emery and Sean Walsh for proof reading my thesis prior to submission,
your time and effort is greatly appreciated.
III
To Dr Paul Noone, thank you for keeping me on-track and for mentoring me through the “PhD
process”. Thanks also to Steven Clavey, Dr Freya Bennett, and Drs Vicki and Kingsley
Anthonisz for your support.
I wish to acknowledge a number of people who have assisted me in completing my PhD through
their support and friendship over the past three years. In no particular order; Michael Gangemi,
Charlotte Scarf, Paige Webster, Eloise Linklater, Catherine Hardie, Vanja Jocic, Emily Chapman,
Stevan & Emily Quenette, Andrew Bode, Dr Carlos Rodriguez, Dr Heath Spong, Tristan Masters,
Paul Jens, Bronwyn Coate, Alison King, Aruna Nair, David Southwick, Rosemary O’Connor,
Pamela Hanney, Gillian Stainforth, Bradley Wilson, Kathleen Griffiths and Associate Prof.
Michael Schwartz.
To my family, special thanks to my parents Martin and Mary for their love and support and
constant encouragement, not just over the past three years, but my whole life. Thank you to my
sisters Katrina and Annette and my brother Gerard for their love and support. To my nephew Jacob
and niece Chelsea-Louise, thank you for providing me with so much love. You are both the future
of the Australian workforce – watch out 2025! To my Nanna Theresa thank you for your love and
encouragement. To my extended family, thank you for all your words of encouragement.
To my partner Colby, thank you for your love and support over the past five years and especially
over the past three “PhD years” of our life together - persistence is the key!
To everyone who has showed interest in my research and who has encouraged me along the way,
thank you - you’re kind words of support have been fantastic and what has kept me on track to
completion.
Thanks Team!
Roslyn M. Sayers
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION......................................................................................................................... I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................................II
TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................................... IV
LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES & DIAGRAMS ...................................................................VII
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER ONE A STORY OF THREE GENERATIONS ...................................................3
1.0 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................3
1.1 BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................................................4
1.2 RATIONALE FOR UNDERTAKING THIS RESEARCH ....................................................................................5
1.3 RESEARCH DESIGN ...................................................................................................................................6
1.4 APPROACH ................................................................................................................................................7
1.5 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH .........................................................................................................................7
1.5.1 Victoria at a Glance...............................................................................................................................8
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH.............................................................................................................9
1.7 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS ....................................................................................................................10
CHAPTER TWO UNDERSTANDING GENERATIONS....................................................12
2.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................12
2.1 THE CONCEPT OF GENERATIONAL COHORTS .........................................................................................13
2.1.1 The Value of Generational Cohorts..............................................................................................14
2.1.2 The Generations...........................................................................................................................19
2.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENERATIONS..............................................................................................20
2.2.1 Baby Boomer Generation .............................................................................................................21
2.2.2 Generation X.................................................................................................................................22
2.2.3 Generation Y ................................................................................................................................24
2.3 RECENT STUDIES ON GENERATIONS AT WORK ......................................................................................27
2.4 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MODERN WORKPLACES? ........................................................................31
2.5 CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................32
CHAPTER THREE THE CHANGING NATURE OF WORK ...........................................34
3.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................34
3.1 THE S.E.T MODEL ..................................................................................................................................34
3.2 DOMINANT TRENDS INFLUENCING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT ......................................36
3.2.1 The Pace of Change in the Workplace ........................................................................................37
3.2.2 Globalisation ................................................................................................................................40
3.2.3 Technology at Work ...................................................................................................................41
3.2.4 Communication at Work..............................................................................................................43
3.2.5 Changing Demographics – the Ageing Population.....................................................................44
3.2.6 LABOUR SHORTAGE ...............................................................................................................46
3.3THE CHANGING WORKPLACE CULTURE .................................................................................................48
3.3.1 Working Styles..............................................................................................................................49
3.3.2 Increased Female Participation Rate ............................................................................................51
3.3.3 The Deal Breakers - Attraction, Retention and Engagement.......................................................52
3.3.4 Employee Attraction: ‘Attractive to Whom’? ............................................................................53
3.3.5 Employee Engagement –‘Challenge Me, Motivate Me, Value Me!’.........................................54
3.3.6 Career Progression .......................................................................................................................56
3.3.7 Training and Life-Long Learning................................................................................................57
3.3.8 Retention: ‘You’re a High Potential Employee - You Can’t Leave!’ .........................................59
3.3.9 Organisational Loyalty –‘What’s That?’.....................................................................................60
3.3.10 Work/Life Balance......................................................................................................................61
3.4 CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................65
CHAPTER FOUR METHODOLOGY...................................................................................67
4.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................67
4.1 RESEARCH AIMS AND QUESTIONS..........................................................................................................67