Generational categories: A broken basis for human resource management research and practice
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Date
2020
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Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Abstract
This provocation challenges the use of generational cate gories as a valid and useful basis for the development of
human resource management (HRM) research and practice.
We present two provocations. First, that a focus solely on
year of birth as a driver of attitudes, values and behaviours
is wholly inadequate. Second, we go beyond existing
empirical challenges to argue that any approach to the
study of generations that focuses solely on generational
categories should be abandoned. We consider the theo retical basis for generations, together with specific exam ples from empirical studies to show how the current
reliance on largely unsubstantiated categories leaves even
longitudinal studies unable to make an effective contribu tion to this field. We draw on crossâdisciplinary insights to
consider the implications for academic research and for
HRM practice, showing how the current approach limits
the usefulness of findings and suggesting a potential way
forward
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Keywords
Human resource management