Enterprise from the Perspective of Intergenerational Learning
Author(s):
Conference:
ECER 2015
Format:
Paper

Session Information

32 SES 04 B, Transition in Organizations (Intergenerational Learning and Future Professionals)

Paper Session

Time:
2015-09-09
09:00-10:30
Room:
3008. [Main]
Chair:
Line Revsbaek

Contribution

The proposed paper is one of the outputs of a four-year project “Intergenerational Learning Across Social Environments” which focuses – apart from learning in communities and school environment – also on intergenerational learning in enterprises. The central starting point is the concept of intergenerational learning. The concept of intergenerational learning focuses on learning taking place through interactions between members of different generations. This feature brings about not only transfer of certain contents from one generation to another. Intergenerational learning is perceived rather as a bi-directional process (Ramon, Turini, 2008), whose importance is growing in the light of current demographic trends in society, the need to maintain intergenerational continuity in society as a whole as well as in the component parts of its structure (an increasing attention is being paid to intergenerational learning in the workplace (comp. e.g. Bell, Narz, 2007; Glass, 2007; Patterson, 2007; etc.)).

Content-wise, the paper is a follow-up to our presentation “Intergenerational Learning in the Workplace”, presented at the ECER conference in Porto in 2014. We then presented outputs of the first qualitative research stage (using the obserview method, i.e. a method combining interview and observation) in which we identified the protagonists of situations of intergenerational learning and their degrees of involvement, who was learning from whom in intergenerational contact, what intergenerational contact consisted of and what circumstances in the workplace are necessary for it to arise.

It is these results that the second, quantitative research phase – whose results will be presented in the proposed paper – is building on. Its objective is to verify and quantify the results of the above-described qualitative survey and characterize the phenomena identified as to frequency, intensity and evaluation by the protagonists. The research questions we are asking in the paper are the following:

  1. What is the frequency of situations of intergenerational learning in the enterprises under observation?
  2. What is the intensity of processes of intergenerational learning in the enterprises under observation?
  3. What conditions for intergenerational learning have been set up and how do they hinder or support learning processes in the enterprises under observation?

Research project "Intergenerational Learning in Various Social Environments" is supported by Czech Science Foundation (GA13-07234S).

Method

Methodologically, the whole research project builds on five steps according to the Sequential Embedded Design within Mixed Methods Research logic (Creswell, Plano Clark, 2006; Bergman, 2008). It combines techniques of qualitative and quantitative methodology, applying them to the research questions. The proposed paper presents the second, quantitative phase of research, whose objective is to verify the results of the qualitative survey undertaken in the first phase. The research design is based on a questionnaire survey distributed to a sample of approximately three hundred respondents selected by motivated choice. The sample will be selected a two-level selection process. First, motivated choice will be applied to enterprises. The selection criteria include representation of several generations and an assumption that intergenerational learning situations arise permanently or repeatedly in the enterprise. Then, within a specific enterprise a survey including all members will be made. Questionnaires will be used as the research tool. They consist of three parts. The first one will be devoted to the demographic parameters of respondents, such as gender, age, level of education etc. The second one will address conditions under which intergenerational learning in the company is taking place. The questions will focus on the level of organization, i.e. generational parameters, forms of support to intergenerational learning, and the environment itself in which intergenerational learning in the company is taking place. The third part of the questionnaire will focus on how interaction and mutual learning between generations is perceived and what content intergenerational learning has. Formally, the questionnaire contains mainly closed-ended questions presented as statements for respondents to express the degree of their agreement or disagreement. The closed-ended questions will be supplemented with open-ended questions where relevant.

Expected Outcomes

The proposed paper address the topic of intergenerational learning in enterprises, by reporting results of a questionnaire survey including circa 300 respondents, members of companies. We suppose the research technique to help us verify phenomena outlined in the previous, qualitative part of the research. The results will present intergenerational learning in terms of frequency and intensity of realization at the level of learning processes. It will also focus on the specifics of company environments which may influence intergenerational learning. It may be assumed that these will include size of the company and relative representations of the individual generations (and the richness of the mix) as well as the nature of relations between individual members. Characteristics of individual members – respondents – may also be expected to play a role, especially the degree of their engagement, emotions individual members associate with the different generations, or their motivations for involving in intergenerational learning.

References

Bell, N., & Narz, M. (2007). Meeting the challenges of age diversity in the workplace. The CPA Journal, 77(2), 56–59. Bergman, M. M. (2008). Advances in mixed methods research. London: SAGE. Cherri, H.CH.Y. Intergenerational learning in Hong Kong: A narrative inquiry. [online]. University of Nottingham. 2008, 352 p. [last access 2011-15-11]. Available at: http://etheses.nottingham.ac.uk/486/1/Cherri_Ho_EdD_Thesis_2008.pdf Creswell, J. V., & Clark, V. P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. London: SAGE. Glass, A. (2007). Understanding generational differences for competitive success. Industrial and Commercial Training, 39(2), 98–103. Illeris, K. (2007). How we learn: Learning and non-learning in school and beyond. New York: Routledge. Kersh, N., & Evans, K. (2007). Competence development and workplace learning in the UK and Ireland: An overview. In L. Chisholm, H. Fennes, R. Spannring & A. Rosenthal (Eds.), Competence development at workplace learning (pp. 127–145). Innsbruck: Innsbruck University Press. Mezirow, J. (1990). Fostering critical reflection in adulthood. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Novotný, P. (2009). Učení pro pracoviště. Prostor pro uplatnění konceptu workplace learning v českém prostředí. [Learning for workplace: Scope for the applying the concept of workplace learning in Czech context.] Brno: Masaryk University. Patterson, C. (2007). The impact of generational diversity in the workplace. The Diversity Factor, 15(3), 17–22. Rabušicová, M., Kamanová, L., Pevná, K. (2011). O mezigeneračním učení. [On intergenerational learning.] Brno: Masaryk University. Ramon, A. C., & Turrini, M. (2008). Grandparents and grandsons: Poetics of an intergenerational learning experience. Barcelona: eLearning Papers. Stankovic', D. (2009). Kolegiální vztahy a zapojení učitelů do rozvoje školy. [Collegial relations and teacher involvement in school development]. Studia Paedagogica, 14(1), 52–66. Tempest, S. (2003). Intergenerational learning: A reciprocal knowledge development process that challenges the language of learning. Management Learning, 34(2), 181–200. Verbiest, E. (2011). Developing professional learning communities. Paper presented at the AERA conference, New Orleans, USA.

Author Information

Petr Novotný (presenting / submitting)
Masaryk University
Department of Educational Sciences
Brno
Masaryk University, Czech Republic
Masaryk University, Czech Republic

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