In today’s workplace the largest diversity of generations is represented than at any other time in history. With this diversity comes new challenges. The purpose of this assessment is to work as a team to conduct web-based research on the specific challenges, and also opportunities, inherent in managing – and working in – a multigenerational workforce. The existence of a multigenerational workforce affects two areas of human resources: retention and motivation. Employees of diverse age groups react differently to programs designed to address these two areas, and also have differing expectations. To that end companies may need to rethink their existing practices.

Assessment task

The HRM Director of Company ABC is aware of the challenges involved in effectively managing different generations and seeks your guidance to develop a report that harmonises the generational divide across the organisation.

Please follow these guidelines to complete the assessment:

1. This is a group-based assessment. You will be assigned to a group of four students. Internal students will be given their group in the tutorial; external students will be notified via email. Please note: 90% of the grade will be assigned to the individual and 10% to the group.

1. The purpose of this assessment is for you to engage in web-based research. It is widely understood that there are multiple generations in the workplace. Today, the three generations most represented are: baby boomers – born between 1941 – 1960; generation X – born between 1961 – 1976; and millennials (generation Y) born between 1977 – 1992. Each student in your group needs to select ONE of the three generations. The fourth person will introduce the topic of diversity, its causes and consequences and the implications and challenges for a multigenerational workplace.

1. Start your web-based research with a search of popular business publications, even trade journals, professional journals and current affairs journals, for any information about the multigenerational workplace. Finally, use academic research to support your findings in relation to your selected theme.

1. Each student needs to find 8-10 secondary sources for his/her section. Please note you are expected to use a minimum of four refereed academic journals. You will be shown how to tell if a journal is peer reviewed/refereed. Do not include more than 10 references per student.

1. Document using SCU Harvard format.

1. I encourage you to write a first draft of this memo at least one week prior to the due date to ensure adequate time for revision. Please be aware that the writing quality and appropriate referencing will be marked as well as the content.

1. Submit Assessment 4 to Turnitin via the Blackboard site no later than the due date: Friday 6th October, 11.00pm (QLD time).

1. Please note: only one student submits on behalf of their group.

1. Refer to the Marking Criteria Guide and Marking Rubric located in this document.

PRIOS/CDT brief for Assessment 4:

1. Purpose: To conduct web-based research into multigenerational workplace diversity.

1. Reader: The HRM Director of Company ABC (your boss).

1. Information: Based on Internet research.

1. Organisation: Direct order approach.

1. Style: Formal. Be sure to proofread carefully to ensure that there are no sentence-level errors such as spelling mistakes, wrong word choice, incorrect punctuation, etc.

1. Channel choice: Written document.

1. Document design: Report format.

1. Length: 2000 words per group member.

(covered in lecture and tutorials – Reading 4)

Please note:

1. All applications for Special Consideration need to be submitted before the due date of the assessment item. For more information see http://scu.edu.au/students/index.php/30 and Rule 3 – Coursework Awards – Student Assessment and Examinations http://policies.scu.edu.au/view.current.php?id=0014

Computer failure will not be accepted as a reason for missing an assessment deadline: you are strongly advised to backup all of your work, for example on a USB flash drive, to ensure that you are still able to submit to a deadline in the event of a computer related failure.

1. In cases where there are no accepted mitigating circumstances as determined through Special Consideration procedures, late submission of assessment tasks will lead automatically to the imposition of a penalty. Penalties will be applied for late submissions as soon as the deadline is reached.

1. Students are reminded of the extremely serious view the University takes with regard to plagiarism and are strongly advised to read the university’s policies on academic integrity and the penalties associated with academic misconduct (see: https://policies.scu.edu.au/ view.current.php?id=00142, as well as information in the UIG).