Leading the 'Connected Generation'

By Denis Hicks and Steven Price

A special report on the impact of the Internet and Connectivity on technology graduates today - the Connected Generation or Gen C. It highlights how management roles, especially in traditional industries, will evolve and how companies should react to remain competitive. Student and Parents may also find this interesting when considering career choices.
In a series of 4 conferences, a broad range of managers, academics, and students discussed the strengths and weaknesses of a generation brought up on the Internet. The aim of the discussions was to highlight best practice in recruiting and retaining technology graduates. The main finding is that technology is quickly becoming powerful enough to automate many traditional management roles with broad impacts on organisations that go beyond the 'War for Talent'. However, there are ways to prepare for this revolution and integrate the unique skill set of Gen C's into an organisation.
In this report, the main themes that emerged from the discussions are highlighted and recommendations are given for students, educationalists and industrial managers.
All proceeds from the work will be used to fund more research in this area. For more details please visit www.eiil.net.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Denis Hicks
• Release date: Aug 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310924712

Denis Hicks

Denis is now a consultant and writer on management issues. Previously, he was a Director in the Chemical Industry specialising in business development and strategy in multi-cultural environments. His assignments took him around the world with extensive periods in Europe and Asia. His private interests are ski mountaineering and sailing with some occasional golf. He has two children.

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EIIL is a not-for-profit business school for developing future senior managers in technology-driven companies. Its members are mainly technology-driven companies in the chemicals, energy and construction industries. Through its Leadership Development Board, its members sponsor research into current trends in recruiting, developing and retaining talented technologists into senior management roles.

EIIL was founded in 2003. It is based in Brussels, Belgium

Principal : Steve Price

EIIL a.i.s.b.l. ; Chateau Latour de Freins, Rue Engeland 555 – 1180 Bruxelles

www.eiil.net - Tel: [phone] - E-Mail: [e-mail]

Leading the Connected Generation

Denis Hicks & Steve Price

Smashwords Edition Rev 1

Copyright 2014 European Institute for Industrial Leadership AISBL

Published by European Institute for Industrial Leadership AISBL at Smashwords

ISBN: 9781310924712

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2014, the European Institute for Industrial Leadership (EIIL) completed an investigation into managing today’s young technology graduates from the so-called ‘Connected Generation’ employed within traditional industries.

In a series of 4 workshops, senior industrialists, academics and young graduates debated how to attract, develop and motivate these graduates in a rapidly changing world.

The conferences found that the exponential increase in computing power is causing a revolution. Increasingly powerful computers will be used for many entry level and professional-roles with a fundamental impact on career structures. As technology continues to leap forward faster than social and work structures can evolve, CEO's and senior managers must look well ahead to manage the inevitable disruption that will occur - an increase in outsourcing and a smaller management talent pool.

Growing up in this revolution, the Connected Generation has a unique set of talents that come from their adept use of the internet and mobile technologies. They aspire to be in control of their own careers, often expecting rewarding, and multiple career opportunities with multiple employers.

The Connected Generation, however, is probably less comfortable using inter-personal social skills, accepting responsibilities and working in isolation. They tend to underestimate the significance of building experience and the time required to become effective at managing. They need continuous, timely feedback.

As Technology will automate many entry-level roles for graduates, initial career positions will become scarcer at a time when more graduates are entering the job