Stereotypes about Intergenerational Cooperation in Companies: Case studies of Slovene companies

Ula Mejaš; Mitja  Ruzzier; Miha Škerlavaj

Ula Mejaš
Mitja Ruzzier
Miha Škerlavaj

Keywords: stereotypes, stereotypes of generations, generations, intergenerational cooperation, Slovene companies

Abstract

Four generations are currently present in the labour market, and different events have affected their evolution. Theoretical backgrounds of stereotypes and generati- ons, as presented in this paper, serve as the basis for our qualitative research based on theoretical knowledge about generations, stereotypes, and intergenerational stereotypes. The research was carried out in different companies in Slovenia. In this paper, we present results of a study in which we examined three generations in the labour market. We explored whether the employees (subordinates and leaders) perceive the differences between the generations and what kinds they perceive. We compared the results with presented stereotypes and examined if stereotypes of generations exceed the actual differences between the generations raised by the interviewees in our study. Based on the findings, recommendations for practice and for further research are given.

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Author Biographies

Ula Mejaš

Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Slovenia
E-pošta: ula.mejas@fm-kp.si

Ula Mejaš, after finishing undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, enrolled in doctoral studies in 2013 at the Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, where she is working as a young researcher and an assistant in the field of entrepreneurship. Her research fields include sustainable development in small and medium-sized companies, internati- onalization, and innovation.

Mitja Ruzzier

Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Slovenia
E-mail: mitja.ruzzier@fm-kp.si

Mitja Ruzzier is a professor of entrepreneurship and head of the Department of Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Management, University of Primorska. His main research topics are internationalization, international marketing, inno- vativeness, SMEs, and entrepreneurship. In addition to working at the faculty, he serves as a consultant for numerous companies in the economic sector. His articles have been published in scientific journals such as Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, Transformations in Business and Economics, Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, Managing Global Transitions, and Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. He has written many books, the latest of which is Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs: A global perspective, which he co-authored with Robert D. Hisrich and Maja Konečnik Ruzzier. More about the author and his work can be found on the website www.mitjaruzzier.com.

Miha Škerlavaj

BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
Univerza v Ljubljani, Ekonomska fakulteta, Slovenia
E-mail: miha.skerlavaj@bi.no

Miha Škerlavaj is an associate professor of leadership and organizational behaviour at the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo and in the field of mana- gement at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. His main research topics are organizational learning, creativity, innovation, social networks, organizational culture, and knowledge management. His research work has been repea- tedly awarded and published in international scientific journals, such as Academy of Management Journal, European Management Review, Journal of Informati- on Technology, Leadership, International Journal of Production Economics, and Journal of International Management. More about the author and his work can be found on the website www.mihaskerlavaj.net.

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