Date of Award

Winter 12-13-2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Abstract

Today’s public utility workforces are faced with a significant number of Baby Boomer retirements resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge. Concurrently, the hiring Generation X and Millennial employees in response to the Baby Boomer retirements have increased the amount of generational diversity in the work place. Generational diversity and or generational differences in work values are buzz words for managers to consider as they learn how to effectively manage a multi-generational workforce while continuously providing the public a high level of service. This study provides an empirical analysis of actual versus perceived generational differences in work values in a public utility. It includes an analysis of a cross-sectional survey of work values questions replicated from two time-lag studies performed by Smola and Sutton (2002) and Twenge et al. (2010). In addition to examining the impact of the Millennials’ on the workplace, and the transfer of knowledge from Baby Boomers to Generation X and Millennial employees. The study closes with recommendations for manager

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