The Role of Generational Workstyles within a Cohort of Support Staff at Madison College

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the workstyle preferences of the members of a multigenerational support staff cohort to provide information that Madison College managers can analyze to help them lead more effectively. Data was collected via a 39-question Qualtrics survey that was created and distributed by the researcher via email to 106 individuals in a Madison College support staff cohort. The research instrument was developed and organized around the three research questions in this study: 1. What are the desired workstyle preferences of the age diverse generations among support staff at Madison College? 2. Are desired workstyle preferences different for age diverse generations among support staff at Madison College? 3. What perceptions do Madison College support staff have of their supervisors’ use of workstyle preferences in how they lead? Of the 106 support staff surveyed, 54 voluntarily participated yielding a 51% response rate. The results indicated that all the age diverse generations have various preferences. The high standard deviation on some of the questions also indicated there are various preferences within the generations themselves. With potentially five generations in a support staff cohort at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin, it is crucial that leaders ascertain, adapt to, and nurture different generational workstyle preferences to sustain a dynamic, productive, and respectful work environment.