1.   How can gen Y, working for a company, be a posi t ive addi t ion t o a company during a recession

2.   How can Managers, Manage Gen Y t o ge t t he bes t performance ou t of Gen Y, especially during t his recession?

3.   If you can expand on t he idea of collabora t ion and flow of ideas as a key posi t ive quali t y of Gen Y t his would also be insigh t ful.  How can collabora t ion be a posi t ive quali t y for a company during a recession?

1.       How can Generation Y, working for a company, be a positive addition to a company during a recession?

Generation Y is a dynamic and fluid bunch, capable of molding themselves to fit any number of challenging circumstances. During hard times, especially the ones as of present, it is important to have as versatile and capable a workforce as possible, a group that can meet modern challenges with an understanding of how to function.

It is not surprise, by this point, that we are in a recession and that the impacts of it will ripple across every industry. The solutions to old problems are new and innovative ideas and Generation Y comes to the work place with a set of fresh perspectives. In business ideas are a universal currency, giving much value to the capacity to think on their feet.

In addition to being both dynamic and having a fresh perspective, Generation Y also work for less in regards to both pay and initial investment. Being new to the workforce and not having the same seniority as their Generation X and Baby Boomer counterparts. So therefore they are not capable or knowledgeable enough to effectively demand higher pay. While the initial investment in new Generation Y employees maybe substantial, it is nonetheless much reduced to those of their older counterparts. The kinds of investments made into new employees when a company is becoming more adaptable to slimmer times is the ability to mobile and increasingly efficient, these are core traits of Generation Y.

2.       How can Managers manage Generation Y to get the best performance out of them, especially during a recession?

The ability to manage Generation Y boils down to two main elements; access to technology and community development. These qualities are additionally valuable during a recession as they ability to utilize previously untapped resources and minds becomes ever increasingly valuable.

Access to technology is important for effectively managing Generation Y, especially during a recession for two reasons. The first reason being that to remove Generation Y from relative open access to technology is to remove a fish from water and therefore force them to openly disobey policies in order to breathe again, thus making them less productive. The second reason why access to technology is important is that it promotes new ways of seeing things and collaboration on existing ideas. Being nimble and more efficient with your given resources during a recession is vital, Generation Y and technology can do this for your company.

 

3      How can collaboration be a key positive for a company during a recession?

Collaboration is the art of pulling in a variety of minds and inspiring the free flow of insights and perspectives to achieve a common goal. When times are good and surplus is readily available, collaboration can seem like a waste of time, something that takes away from maintaining the status quote, which is working so very well. During a period of recession, collaboration will make or break a company.

During a recession collaboration utilities scarce resources more effectively and focuses the minds around a collective singularity, something of vital importance. Without collaboration the infinitely valuable flow of ideas is ignored and the currency that ideas are becomes worthless. Additionally, collaboration also breaks the boundaries that were reinforced during times of prosperity, making way for the changes that are needed to progress into the future.

Teamwork matters.

 

                It is becoming increasingly difficult to find novel and predictable means for delivering an advertisement or marketing message to Generation Y. As technology is adopted on-mass by the tech savvy crews of Gen Yers, new opportunities, novel but seemingly unpredictable, begin to be created. With in as recent as the last 5 years, a new form of marketing has begun to take shape, hoped to be the answer to accessing the 65 million Generation Yers who own a cell phone. This new approach is known as Mobile Marketing.

                Essentially, a marketer will gain access to a list of private cell phone numbers, unbeknownst to the owner of the device, and will send them a text message with advertisement copy contained within. Initially Mobile Marketing was seen as a cure-all for delivering new media messages to the hungry minds and eyes of new consumers. However, it was quickly found out to be even more ineffective the traditional television advertisements.

                Not only did Generation Y not engage or begin a relationship with the Brand, but they openly rebelled against the invasive spam. In short, Generation Y did not like receiving unsolicited text messages from a 3^rd party whom was trying to sell a good or service. Much to the dismay and shock of many marketers and companies, Generation Y began using their other new media tools, such as blogs and email, to communicate to the world their disapproval and frustration with the new attempts to attract attention.

                The saying, “Bad news is good news,” certainly doesn’t apply here as the buzz created on the internet about Mobile Marketing certainly led to its temporary demise. When it comes to Marketing to Generation Y it is very important to pursue efforts that allow for transparency and feedback, immediate feedback. Mobile Marketing does not allow for such transparency nor does it allow for relationship building, in most cases. There is one major exception however.

                For those Generation Yers who have opted into receiving the text messages from advertisers or content providers who are viewed as acceptable have an unprecedented opportunity to build and maintain relationships with Generation Y like never before. The power of Mobile Marketing, however slim, lies in its ability to relay desired messages for virtually no cost to a vast number of consumers. This is the upside to mobile marketing, cost and time/labor efficiency.

                Being skeptical by nature as well as desiring a relationship with those requesting a moment of their time, Generation Y does not respond well to Mobile Marketing.  Mobile Marketing is another example of how Marketers did not realize the consequences of their actions, however seemingly benign, before committing themselves. As is understood Generation Yers as well as Generation Y Consultants, to reach Gen Y you must first listen and secondly respond. Mobile Marketing is push instead of pull, very traditionally limited, simply using a new medium to deliver the content. As Generation Y continues to adopt newer technologies, marketers will continue to be one step behind, trying to deliver a message without attempting to develop a serious engagement with their new consumers.