Generational Awareness
Generational awareness and analysis have been a mainstream science in the academic and business world for some time. Each generation has unique to them, certain characteristics that differentiate them from other generations. All generations share certain traits, beliefs, customs, and behaviours unique to their age group. Age reveals two important things about a person: their position in their life cycle; and their membership in a group (cohort) of individuals were born at the same time and, who have similar experiences. Other factors obviously have impacts that differentiate people outside of generational norms such as place of birth, culture, and religion, etc.
Generational awareness is used in a variety of ways such as in advertising and political science as a tool to predict business and political trends and outcomes. Multigenerational workplaces could benefit from generational awareness. Understanding the generations can provide a distinct advantage in helping people with their needs and also, help people understand different perspectives, beliefs, and points of view.
Riskboss will be highlighting one generation in this, and each future edition. Generations already highlighted can be found in past editions of Risikboss Magazine. It is our goal to help readers understand the impact factors and traits of each generation. In analysing this information, it is important to be careful not to pigeonhole an individual in any age group with their generational characteristics as people can and do often break generational norms. We hope that this helps to bridge gaps between the generations, assist in dealing with people you interact with, and reduce the risk of misunderstanding points of view.
| YEARS | GENERATION NAME | Generation Z / IGen Generation Generation Z / IGen is the demographic cohort group of people born between 1997 and 2012. They are the generation that comes after the Millennial Generation / Generation Y and before Generation Alpha. Generation Z / IGen are primarily the children of Generation X but some are the children of late Baby Boomers. Generation Z / IGen range in age from 14 to 29 years of age. By the numbers, Generation Z / IGen currently number about 2 billion people representing approximately 22% of the worldwide population. It is reported that 34% of Generation Z / IGen live in single-parent households, an increase from previous generations. Some famous Generation Z / IGen are actress Zendaya, singer Bille Eilish, singer Olivia Rodfrigo, actress Millie Booby Brown, actor Tom Holland, actress Amandla Stenberg, singer Sabrina Carpenter, Tik Tok creator Khaby Lame, heir to the Spanish throne Princess Leomor, basketball superstar LeBron James, soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo, gymnastics great Simone Biles, and the list goes on. Generation Z / IGen are characterized by being tech-savvy, socially conscious, and pragmatic. They prioritize mental health, value authenticity and diversity, and are highly adaptable. Generation Z / IGen are deeply invested in diversity, equality, inclusion, and environmental sustainability, frequently engaging in activism to address these issues. Having grown up with smartphones and social media, they are hyper-connected and expect instant access to information relying less on telephone calls and more on technology for communication. Generation Z / IGen is the first generation who have never known a world without the internet. In the workplace, Generation Z / IGen seek purpose, flexibility, and ethical leadership in their careers, often desiring to learn and grow within organizations that closely align with their values. They prioritize experiences over material goods, with a strong interest in travel, and are heavily influenced by peers and influencers in their purchasing decisions. |
| 1901 – 1927 | The Greatest Generation | |
| 1928 – 1945 | The Silent Generation | |
| 1946 – 1964 | Baby Boom Generation | |
| 1965 – 1980 | Generation X | |
| 1981 – 1996 | Millennial Generation | |
| 1997 – 2012 | Generation Z / IGen | |
| 2013 – 2024 | Generation Alpha | |
| 2025 – 2038 | Generation Beta |