Question

Introduction to management

Hi please answer based on TOPIC 10: MANAGING WORK IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY Lecture + Robbins Ch. 2, 5

Argue why it is important for managers to pay attention to demographic trends and shifts when operating in a global society. Provide examples of demographic trends and shifts to illustrate your answer.

Answer 1

It is extremely important for managers to give considerable attention to demographic shifts and trends while managing in a global society. With increase in globalization, the diversity in workplace has amplified to a great extent and demographics are changing more rapidly in certain parts of the world, especially the developing countries. Hence, the managers have to formulate new HR practices and strategies to operate in a global environment.

Some of the demographic shifts and trends in today’s world are as follows:

(1) Rise in ageing populations:

Ageing populations are on the rise in many countries of the world due to advancements in healthcare and invention of many drugs for treating life-threatening diseases. Hence, one may find more elderly people in the workplace. Managers now have to think more about occupational health and employee benefits.

This can also lead to enhanced intergenerational conflicts in the organizations. The elderly employees may not like working styles of the younger employees giving rise to friction and arguments. The managers have to think of ways for proper teamwork between the younger generation and the older generation.

(2) Millennials or Generation Y:

Developing countries are having more of millennials of Generation Y employees in the organizations. These employees are usually less patient, want quick results and rapid career progression and a stimulating work environment. Therefore, these groups of employees need to be managed differently than the traditional way of managing the baby boomers.

(3) Global Workforce:

There is increased migration of workers from one country to the other, resulting in huge cultural diversity in the workplace. Hence, managers have to frame excellent policies on workforce diversity which are able to include people from varied types of cultures. The managers have to also ponder over the educational standards in different countries in order to make the right selection at the time of recruitment.

(4) Increase in Female Employees:

There is a considerable increase in female employment across the world, with more happening in the developing countries. As per a report from Booz & Company consultancy firm, around 865 million more females will have entered the workforce from 2010 to 2020.

Female employees have different mindsets and styles of working and hence they need to be handled differently from the male counterparts. Also many of them would prefer flexi-timings due to additional home responsibilities. The managers have to take into consideration all these factors very carefully.