On Management and Generation X. Generation X, now in their twenties and thirties, make different demands on business managers than previous generations. For one thing, they expect to be far more involved in the decision-making process. This is a topic that managers will relate to, says Thomas Møller, TMI Chief Consultant, in this article. It fascinates managers because they recognise themselves in the problems. We all experience generation gaps in our day-to-day lives and certain problems between the generations are an inherent part of our lives, no matter which time we live in.

Thomas Møller has done some extensive research into the challenges that organisations face when integrating different generations in the same workplace. There is a growing interest in how an organisation can achieve good cooperation between different generations. The generation problem is particularly pronounced at present, because everything that used to be a formal and safe area of authority is now a subject for discussion. The formal authority of being a manager does not in itself bring acceptance or approval – and more than ever before, the young generation questions the manager’s competence and insight.

In order to achieve genuine involvement, it is necessary to go deeply into the principle that Thomas Møller calls “management by participation”, i.e. management by employee involvement. Involvement is not just a management activity. It is inherent in the principle itself that the one who is to be involved is truly involved.