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Leading Multiple Generations in the Australian Rail Workplace

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Workforce Development

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Abstract

The emergence of multi-generational organisations and the need for leaders to develop ‘generational competence’ is a contentious topic in the literature. Academics argue that multi-generation organisations are nothing new and warn us of the dangers of making sweeping generalisations about the behaviours and outlook of people who belong to a particular age classification. Conversely, market surveys and consulting reports, primarily led from the USA, claim the existence of such a growing phenomenon and suggest that organisations must treat different cohorts of employees in a way that capitalises on their age-related values and working preferences. These studies have given rise to popular terms such as Baby Boomers and Generation X and Y.

This chapter draws on research findings to uncover how one industry in Australia is dealing with a workforce of four generations. We comment on how the rapidly ageing industry is facing major challenges in transferring tacit knowledge and skills from one generation to the next and how workforce development activities accommodate the needs of different age groups such as attracting apprentices, up-skilling returning workers and assisting those who are ready to retire. The findings remind us of the need to plan and prepare for career transitions at all generational levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia

    Tom Short & Roger Harris

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  1. Tom Short
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  2. Roger Harris
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Correspondence to Tom Short .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Education, Equity and Work Research Group, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia

    Tom Short

  2. Education, Equity and Work Research Group, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia

    Roger Harris

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Short, T., Harris, R. (2014). Leading Multiple Generations in the Australian Rail Workplace. In: Short, T., Harris, R. (eds) Workforce Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-068-1_9

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