Book Review: When Generations Collide

When Generations Collide, by Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman, provide insight into the manners, decision making choices, values and work habits of four generations within the workplace. The Millennials, Generation X, Baby Boomers, and Traditionalists each have their own perception and needs within the workplace. Understanding how these generations act and interact with their environment fosters better ways of encouraging cross-generational understandings.

The book discusses concepts including generational turbulence, WWI to WWII, race, religion, gender, language, and different approaches to management. Understanding how each generation views the workplace and sees their contribution to the environment is important for managing these different vantage points within the workplace. Furthermore, the book also provides some insight on how to get these groups to work more closely together and understand each other.

There is an outline of the approximate generational groups:

1.) Traditionalists
2.) Baby Boomers
3.) Generation X
4.) Millennial

The work is written through a case study and employee perspective. It doesn't provide a lot of hard facts on the concepts but does offer a level of discussion that the majority of managers will understand. The book is not also academic by nature but would have been a worthwhile read in the past. The book is now considered out of date and uses some incorrect terminology. It is suggested you find an updated version

Blog Ranking: 3-1 (age of book)=2.0
Additional Source: Website for an overview.
Cost:  $7.00 New (I bought mine for $1.00 used).
Pages: 384

Lancaster, L. & Stillman, D. (2002). When generations collide. New York: HarperCollins. ISB: 0-06-662107-0