CGK's research informs the global debate
INTRODUCTION TO THE GENES
Generations can be confusing. This page is dedicated to answering common generational questions and providing context for older generational conversations about topics such as differences, similarities, and trends in employment, shopping, voting, and more. If we don't answer your question here,Contact usand we'll do our best to help! Just think of us as your favorite for all generations.
A generation is a group of people who were born around the same time and grew up around the same place. Individuals in this "birth cohort" exhibit similar characteristics, preferences, and values throughout their lives. At the Center for Generation Kinetics, we believe that generations are not a box. Instead, they are strong clues about where to start connecting and influencing people of different ages. There are big differences between generations and it's important to know thatyears in which each generation begins and ends. We specialize in the relationship between geography and generations. Millennials, for example, are the most consistent generation worldwide. However, we still see significant differences between Millennials who grew up in an urban environment versus those who grow up in a rural environment or those who move to a new country.
Generations exhibit similar characteristics—such as communication, shopping, and motivational preferences—because they experienced similar trends at roughly the same stage in life and through similar channels (eg, online, TV, mobile, etc.). Generational trends are more influential when people become adults, meaning that members of a particular generation will develop and share similar values, beliefs, and expectations. It is important to remember that on an individual level, everyone is different. But looking at people through a generational lens provides useful predictability for those trying to reach, inform, or persuade a large segment of the population.
CGK mainframe,we study generationsand their behavior to identify the following:
- The one that shaped each generation
- Today's characteristics, thought processes, expectations and preferences of each generation
- Where generations are headed in the near and long term
Creating an accurate snapshot of the generations, where they came from, where they are now and where they are going, helps our team achieve results for clients and inform broader conversations about the workforce, the market and social norms. We help our clients with generation-focused services to create success and growth. These services include custom generationsresearchand basicspeaks.
The Center for Generational Dynamics is going to reveal all kinds of new generational trends and truths. This is exciting stuff! We reveal these findings through the original,preliminary investigation– now more than 100 surveys worldwide – and analyzing data provided to us by our clients' brands, employers and industries around the world. We analyze the results in the context of our own database, publicly available data and other research studies. Thanks to technology, generations are creating more data than ever before. We use all this information to provide rich insights, strategies, stories and solutions.
Currently, five generations make up our society. Each of these five generations has an active role in the workforce, the marketplace and communities. Depending on the particular employer, the workforce spans four to five generations. Here are the birth years for each generation:
- Gen Z, iGen or Centennials: Born around 1996 – 2015
- Millennialsor Gen Y: Born around 1977 – 1995
- Generation X: Born around 1965 – 1976
- Baby boomers: Born approximately 1946 – 1964
- Traditional or Silent Generation: Born around 1945 and before
The reason you see different birth years is twofold:
- People who have been talking for generations have come to different conclusions - and frankly, a lot of people don't do real research, so they just guess.
- Generational birth years vary by geography, and you'll see different characteristics in different parts of the world. The major events that affect a generation may be dramatically different across the globe, or at least regionally or nationally in scope, and trends may strike at different times.
For example, being a Millennial in Athens, Greece with the current unemployment situation may lead to different expectations and behaviors than being a Millennial in Austin, Texas at the exact same time when the job market is great. The more you focus on a geography and set of birth years, the more accuracy you'll find.Click hereabout how we determine when each generation begins and ends.
The end of itthe millennial generationand its initiationGen Z in the USclosely associated with September 11, 2001. This day marks the first defining moment for Millennials. Members of Gen Z – born in 1996 and after – cannot process the meaning of 9/11 and it has always been part of history for them. CGK is currently conducting research on this latest generation and we will be publishing interesting results in the near future!
The three main trends shaping the generations are parenting, technology and the economy.For example, many Baby Boomers have the parenting philosophy: "We want it to be easier for our kids than it was for us." This philosophy, in turn, helped create and reinforce Millennials' sense of entitlement, which is now a hotly debated topic.
For the last two years they haveMillennialshas become the largest generation in the American workforce. Millennials are also the fastest growing generation of customers in the market, providing the greatest lifetime value. Additionally, Millennials exhibit different attitudes toward employment, sales, and marketing that challenge many conventional strategies and approaches. It's no wonder everyone's talking about Millennials - but are they really that different? How and why are they different? What can employers, marketers, politicians, educators and parents do? Now Millennials also have something to watch out for: the next generation. Known as Gen Z, Generation Z, iGen or Centennials, this new group of people is making waves in every way a generation could - including parenting, education, employment, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, politics , of religion and much more. to watch out for: the next generation. Known asGen Z, Gen Z, iGen ή Centennials, this new group of people is making waves in every way a generation could—including parenting, education, employment, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, politics, religion, and more.
Sign up for our e-newsletter and you'll receive our latest findings as well as other findings we think are important. You can also read the stories atStatus for Gen ZtheContact us. We are here to help!
1. What is the definition of generation?
A generation is a group of people who were born around the same time and grew up around the same place. Individuals in this "birth cohort" exhibit similar characteristics, preferences, and values throughout their lives. At the Center for Generation Kinetics, we believe that generations are not a box. Instead, they are strong clues about where to start connecting and influencing people of different ages. There are big differences between generations and it's important to know thatyears in which each generation begins and ends. We specialize in the relationship between geography and generations. Millennials, for example, are the most consistent generation worldwide. However, we still see significant differences between Millennials who grew up in an urban environment versus those who grow up in a rural environment or those who move to a new country.
2. What makes generations consistent at a high level?
Generations exhibit similar characteristics—such as communication, shopping, and motivational preferences—because they experienced similar trends at roughly the same stage in life and through similar channels (eg, online, TV, mobile, etc.). Generational trends are more influential when people become adults, meaning that members of a particular generation will develop and share similar values, beliefs, and expectations. It is important to remember that on an individual level, everyone is different. But looking at people through a generational lens provides useful predictability for those trying to reach, inform, or persuade a large segment of the population.
3. What does the Center for Mobility Generations do?
CGK mainframe,we study generationsand their behavior to identify the following:
- The one that shaped each generation
- Today's characteristics, thought processes, expectations and preferences of each generation
- Where generations are headed in the near and long term
Creating an accurate snapshot of the generations, where they came from, where they are now and where they are going, helps our team achieve results for clients and inform broader conversations about the workforce, the market and social norms. We help our clients with generation-focused services to create success and growth. These services include custom generationsresearchand basicspeaks.
4. What makes the generations you study interesting and different?
The Center for Generational Dynamics is going to reveal all kinds of new generational trends and truths. This is exciting stuff! We reveal these findings through the original,preliminary investigation– now more than 100 surveys worldwide – and analyzing data provided to us by our clients' brands, employers and industries around the world. We analyze the results in the context of our own database, publicly available data and other research studies. Thanks to technology, generations are creating more data than ever before. We use all this information to provide rich insights, strategies, stories and solutions.
5. What are the primary generations today?
Currently, five generations make up our society. Each of these five generations has an active role in the workforce, the marketplace and communities. Depending on the particular employer, the workforce spans four to five generations. Here are the birth years for each generation:
- Gen Z, iGen or Centennials: Born around 1996 – 2015
- Millennialsor Gen Y: Born around 1977 – 1995
- Generation X: Born around 1965 – 1976
- Baby boomers: Born approximately 1946 – 1964
- Traditional or Silent Generation: Born around 1945 and before
6. Why do I see different birth years in different places?
The reason you see different birth years is twofold:
- People who have been talking for generations have come to different conclusions - and frankly, a lot of people don't do real research, so they just guess.
- Generational birth years vary by geography, and you'll see different characteristics in different parts of the world. The major events that affect a generation may be dramatically different across the globe, or at least regionally or nationally in scope, and trends may strike at different times.
For example, being a Millennial in Athens, Greece with the current unemployment situation may lead to different expectations and behaviors than being a Millennial in Austin, Texas at the exact same time when the job market is great. The more you focus on a geography and set of birth years, the more accuracy you'll find.Click hereabout how we determine when each generation begins and ends.
7. What do we know about the youngest generation, Gen Z (also known as Generation Z, iGen and Centennials)?
The end of itthe millennial generation and its initiationGen Z in the US closely associated with September 11, 2001. This day marks the first defining moment for Millennials. Members of Gen Z – born in 1996 and after – cannot process the meaning of 9/11 and it has always been part of history for them. CGK is currently conducting research on this latest generation and we will be publishing interesting results in the near future!
8. What are the three main trends that shape generations?
The three main trends shaping the generations are parenting, technology and the economy.For example, many Baby Boomers have the parenting philosophy: "We want it to be easier for our kids than it was for us." This philosophy, in turn, helped create and reinforce Millennials' sense of entitlement, which is now a hotly debated topic.
9. Why do Millennials have so much attention now?
For the last two years they haveMillennialshas become the largest generation in the American workforce. Millennials are also the fastest growing generation of customers in the market, providing the greatest lifetime value. Additionally, Millennials exhibit different attitudes toward employment, sales, and marketing that challenge many conventional strategies and approaches. It's no wonder everyone's talking about Millennials - but are they really that different? How and why are they different? What can employers, marketers, politicians, educators and parents do?
Now Millennials also have something to watch out for: the next generation. Known as Gen Z, Generation Z, iGen or Centennials, this new group of people is making waves in every way a generation could—including parenting, education, employment, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, politics , of religion and much more.
Now Millennials also have something to watch out for: the next generation. Known asGen Z, Gen Z, iGen ή Centennials,This new group of people is making waves in every way a generation could—including parenting, education, employment, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, politics, religion, and more.
10. Where can I find the latest generation research?
Sign up for our e-newsletter and you'll receive our latest findings as well as other findings we think are important. You can also read the stories atStatus for Gen ZtheContact us. We are here to help!
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