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Perennial power Much has been made of how to design workplaces that attract and inspire millennials. But there might be a better demographic filter for your workplace.
M illennials. Gen Y. Echo Boomers. Regardless of the name, this generation is unquestionably an influential cohort – particularly in our industry, where generational differences are often a driver of workplace design. As the biggest generation in the U.S. workforce, much has been made of how to design workplaces that attract, inspire, and enhance the productivity of millennials. But there may be a better demographic filter.
Yukari Yamahiro
DESIGNING FROM THE INSIDE-OUT. Workplace design can inspire organizations, increase trust, and spark innovation. In order to leverage this potential, designers must identify core organizational values “As the biggest generation in the U.S. workforce, much has been made of how to design workplaces that attract, inspire, and enhance the productivity of millennials.”
Meet the Perennials, which Fast Company recently defined as the “ever-blooming, relevant people of all ages who live in the present time, know what’s happening in the world, stay current with technology, and have friends of all ages. [They] comprise an inclusive, enduring mind-set, not a divisive demographic.” The concept of Perennials better reflects our reality online and off. Amazon and Netflix get it right with recommendation engines that target people based on behavioral data over outmoded generational stereotypes. How do we replicate this strategy in the workplace? Here are a few considerations.
See YUKARI YAMAHIRO, page 12
THE ZWEIG LETTER March 6, 2017, ISSUE 1190
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