The clash of generations? Divergent and convergent views on the ideal organizational culture between younger and older employees in two municipalities

In this paper, the concept of ‘generations in organizations’ is linked to the concept of ‘organizational culture’. First, a theoretical framework for ‘generations in organizations’ is proposed as an alternative for the more popular generation typologies. Second, the results of an empirical study are presented. The research question was to what extent younger and older generations desire a different organizational culture due to a different exposure to socialization processes within a particular organizational context. To answer this research question, a survey was conducted in two municipalities. The data show that while in one municipality generational differences with respect to desired organizational culture were found, in the other case organization function level was more important for differences in desired organizational culture. The results of the study are discussed along with some recommendations for further research.status: publishe