11. Which of the following challenges do you see in your organisation when different generations from different cultural backgrounds work together? Please rate by entering the values between 1 = not at all and 5 = very much)
The response options for this question were:
- Communication and misunderstandings
- Differences in values and expectations
- Resistance to change
- Difficulty in conflict management
- Language barriers
- Differences in work styles
- Lack of intercultural training
- Other
This question aims to identify the main challenges perceived within the organization when different generations from diverse cultural backgrounds work together. Participants rated each challenge on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much), allowing to highlight which aspects require greater attention and intervention.
The analysis of the responses shows that the main challenges perceived within the organization when different generations and cultural backgrounds work together are:
- Communication and misunderstandings are the most significant challenges across all generations, with average scores ranging from 4.0 to 4.5. This indicates that cultural and generational differences often cause misunderstandings that require targeted tools and strategies to overcome effectively.
- Difficulty in conflict management is also a relevant issue for all generations, confirming the importance of developing mediation and diversity management skills.
- Differences in values and expectations and resistance to change are more pronounced among older generations (Gen X and Baby Boomers), likely due to more established views on work and innovation, whereas Millennials and Gen Z show greater openness.
- Language barriers and lack of intercultural training are perceived as less intense but still significant obstacles, especially by Millennials and Gen X, highlighting the need to invest in specific training programs to foster inclusion.
- Differences in work styles are a transversal theme, with similar scores across generations, highlighting the need for flexibility and mutual adaptation to leverage diverse working methods.
