Scoping review of intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence and their outcomes

Due to the rapid digitalization of healthcare, it is important to strengthen professionals’ digital competence, particularly to support older professionals to stay in work until retirement age. People of different ages have different digital competencies. Younger generations are ‘digital natives’ who have learned to use digital devices fluently from a young age, while older generations have had to learn to use them in adulthood. The increasing number of new technologies causes in some cases stress, especially for more older healthcare workers. Intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence may offer a way to narrow digital competence gaps in healthcare. The aim of this scoping review was to identify current evidence regarding intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence, and their outcomes. The results can be used to help develop methods for intergenerational digital competence development and improve healthcare professionals’ digital competence. A scoping review was conducted across four databases (Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest) without time limits. The search produced 2905 references, of which 23 studies are included in the review. Thematic analysis was used to analyze these studies’ results. The results showed that a key method for intergenerational digital competence development is reverse mentoring, where a less experienced person serves as a mentor to a more experienced one. Intergenerational digital competence development methods can be done one-on-one or in groups, in classes or on digital platforms. The outcomes of these methods illustrated that they promote mutual learning, increase the digital competence of older adults and the work life skills of young mentors, and narrow the gap between generations. Using such methods, it is possible to make better use of each generation’s expertise. Intergenerational learning could suggest ways of narrowing the digital gap and enhancing intergenerational communication. Healthcare could benefit from implementing intergenerational learning methods for developing digital competence, increasing the digital competence of healthcare professionals, and narrowing the gap between generations

Is competence without humility wasted in building the trust necessary for knowledge transfer in younger/older worker dyads?

Successful knowledge transfer (KT) between younger and older workers (YW and OW, respectively) is critical for organizational success, especially in light of the recent surge in employment volatility among the youngest and oldest segments of the workforce. Yet, practitioners and scholars alike continue to struggle with knowing how best to facilitate these exchanges. The qualitative study offers insight into this phenomenon by exploring how KT unfolds in YW/OW dyads. The authors performed a reflexive thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with two samples of blue- and white-collar younger/older workers from the USA (N = 40), whereby the authors interpreted the lived experiences of these workers when engaged in interdependent tasks. The analysis, informed by social exchange theory and exchange theories of aging, led to the development of the knowledge transfer process model in younger/older worker dyads (KT-YOD). The model illustrates that, through different combinations of competence and humility, KT success is experienced either directly (by workers weighing the perceived benefits versus costs of KT) and/or indirectly (through different bases of trust/distrust perceived within their dyads). Further, humility in dyads appears to be necessary for KT success, while competence was insufficient for realizing KT success, independently. In exposing new inner workings of the KT process in YW/OW dyads, the study introduces the importance of humility and brings scholars and organizations a step closer toward realizing the benefits of age diversity in their workplaces. This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund. The article was first published in Journal of Knowledge Management: https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-01-2023-001

How does rapport impact knowledge transfer from older to younger employees? The moderating role of supportive climate

IntroductionKnowledge transfer from older to younger employees plays a key role in lessening knowledge loss and maintaining firms' competitiveness. While the disharmony derived from a salient age difference between younger and older workers hinders such knowledge transfer. This study aims to construct a rapport model to address it.MethodsData from 318 respondents in various industries were collected through a questionnaire-based survey to test the proposed model. The research hypotheses were tested using hierarchical multiple regressions.ResultsOur empirical results show that almost all rapport dimensions facilitate such knowledge transfer; The moderating role of supportive climate is strong that it enhances or replaces the effects of rapport dimensions on such knowledge transfer.DiscussionThis study contributes to research on knowledge transfer and rapport by providing a detailed understanding of the relational mechanism of the knowledge transfer from older to younger employees based on a revised model of rapport. It also serves as a reference for firms to leverage rapport-building and a supportive climate to enhance this invaluable knowledge transfer

Exploring Political Consumerism: Its Antecedents and Mediating Role Between Family Communication and Political Activity

Viewed as an unconventional approach to politics, political consumerism is a rising form of political action that allows citizens to make political statements with their wallets. However, more research is warranted examining its motivating factors, as well as its connection to other forms of political activity. The family unit is the primary antecedent examined in this study, as it is regarded as one of the most important socializing agents for children, especially when it comes to political development. Conducting a national survey of 523 U.S. adults, the present study explored how one’s family communication environment during childhood affects their likelihood of engaging in political consumerism during adulthood, and in turn, how that influences their involvement in offline and online political activity. Through multiple regression analysis, the results showed that both the conversation and conformity orientations are positively associated with boycotting and buycotting. Path analysis further revealed the mediating role of political consumption on the relationship between family communication and political activity. Overall, this study expands the understanding of family communication patterns theory and suggests that political consumers are involved in various forms of political activity. The results further point to the growing trend of “dual participation,” whereby citizens combine offline and online political activities

Unmet goals of tracking: within-track heterogeneity of students' expectations for

Educational systems are often characterized by some form(s) of ability grouping, like tracking. Although substantial variation in the implementation of these practices exists, it is always the aim to improve teaching efficiency by creating homogeneous groups of students in terms of capabilities and performances as well as expected pathways. If students’ expected pathways (university, graduate school, or working) are in line with the goals of tracking, one might presume that these expectations are rather homogeneous within tracks and heterogeneous between tracks. In Flanders (the northern region of Belgium), the educational system consists of four tracks. Many students start out in the most prestigious, academic track. If they fail to gain the necessary credentials, they move to the less esteemed technical and vocational tracks. Therefore, the educational system has been called a 'cascade system'. We presume that this cascade system creates homogeneous expectations in the academic track, though heterogeneous expectations in the technical and vocational tracks. We use data from the International Study of City Youth (ISCY), gathered during the 2013-2014 school year from 2354 pupils of the tenth grade across 30 secondary schools in the city of Ghent, Flanders. Preliminary results suggest that the technical and vocational tracks show more heterogeneity in student’s expectations than the academic track. If tracking does not fulfill the desired goals in some tracks, tracking practices should be questioned as tracking occurs along social and ethnic lines, causing social inequality

Sustaining a Family Business Beyond the Second Generation

A significant number of funeral homes in the United States are family-owned businesses. These family-owned funeral businesses contribute to society throughout generations to create wealth, provide employment opportunities, and serve the communities that surround them. The purpose of this descriptive multiple case study was to explore strategies that leaders of family-owned funeral business owners in the eastern region of the United States used for intergenerational succession planning. Game theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 3 family business owners and review of the family businesses\u27 professional association websites and family historical documents. Yin\u27s 5-step process served as a guide for analyzing data. Data analysis revealed 6 themes: family succession values, the game, the players, strategies, payoff and rewards, and the outcome. Implications of this study for social change include family business owners\u27 enhanced awareness of successful strategies, which may improve business continuity leading to an increased rate of intergenerational transitions within the funeral industry

Social Media and Collaborative Information Behaviour Intergenerational Difference in a Multinational Company Setting

This research explores the collaborative information behaviour (CIB) of different generations and their social media use in a multinational company (MNC) setting. Academic scholars and practitioners have recognised that globalisation has engaged organisations in increasingly complex supply chains and the impact of the digital era has challenged organisations with complex issues in various ways, such as the collaborative information-intensive environment, the adoption of evolving technology (social media), intergenerational difference, and the influence of cultural difference in organisations. The literature highlights there is a lack of research on the totality of influences and the interplay between these issues as they affect complex settings. Thus, this research analyses the overall complex issues of CIB in an MNC and the interplay of the issues of CIB, social media, intergenerational difference, and cultural difference, and how these issues influence each other in the MNC setting. To address these research questions, this research takes an interpretive approach using activity theory (AT) as a theoretical and analytical framework. Document analysis, non-participant observation, focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews were conducted in a multinational company in Thailand as a case setting. This thesis produces a collaborative information behaviour (CIB) model in the MNC context: an integrative model to shed light on the process of CIB in the MNC and the interplay of significant issues discovered in the complex setting, including the issues of CIB, the colonisation of an organisation by technology, the role of evolving technologies as CIB tools, the intergenerational difference, and the interplay between the national and organisational cultures. This thesis contributes to the fields of CIB, social media, generational difference and cultural difference in terms of investigating the totality of issues and the complexities around the interplay of these issues influencing CIB in the complex organisational setting. The contributions have organisational implications for policy making and management practice

Onvervulde doelen van tracking: heterogene toekomstverwachtingen van leerlingen binnen de onderwijsvormen

Onderwijssystemen worden vaak gekenmerkt door bepaalde vorm(en) van ‘ability grouping’, zoals een indeling naar onderwijsvormen (ook wel aangeduid als tracking of streaming). Hoewel de praktische invulling van dergelijk groeperen van leerlingen verschilt, is het doel steeds tweevoudig. Ten eerste wordt verondersteld dat het efficiënter is om les te geven aan homogene groepen leerlingen wat betreft hun capaciteiten en prestaties. Ten tweede bereiden de verschillende onderwijsvormen de jongeren voor op een andere toekomst en hebben de verschillende onderwijsvormen een andere finaliteit (doorstromingsgericht of arbeidsmarkt). Indien de toekomstverwachtingen van leerlingen (universiteit, hogeschool of werken) in lijn zijn met de doelstellingen van de onderwijsvormen, zou men verwachten dat deze verwachtingen vrij homogeen zijn binnen de onderwijsvormen en heterogeen ertussen. In Vlaanderen bestaat het onderwijssysteem uit vier onderwijstypes (academisch, artistiek, technisch en beroepsonderwijs), die hiërarchisch geordend zijn. Het welgekende watervaleffect is hier een gevolg van, waarbij studenten eerst proberen om in de hoogst gewaardeerde, academisch georiënteerde onderwijsvormen te slagen en zich na falen heroriënteren naar de meer praktische onderwijsvormen. We verwachten dat dit watervaleffect homogene verwachtingen creëert in de academisch georiënteerde onderwijsvormen en heterogene verwachtingen in de praktisch gerichte onderwijsvormen. We maken gebruik van kwantitatieve gegevens verzameld door de International Study of City Youth (ISCY) tijdens het schooljaar 2013-2014 van 2354 leerlingen van het vierde middelbaar in 30 middelbare scholen in Gent (Vlaanderen). Voorlopige resultaten wijzen erop dat de praktische onderwijsvormen meer heterogeniteit vertonen op vlak van toekomstverwachtingen van de leerlingen dan de academisch gerichte vormen. Indien tracking in het secundair onderwijs niet de gewenste doelen bereikt in bepaalde onderwijsvormen, moet deze praktijk in vraag worden gesteld. Een indeling in onderwijsvormen wordt namelijk gekenmerkt door sociale ongelijkheid

Diversity and trust in the newsroom : examining the role of homophily on establishing trust using ERGM

This dissertation focuses on the trust relationship in the newsroom to examine journalists’ status-based homophily, which refers to an individual’s tendency that similarity in social statuses breeds informal connection at work. It analyzes South Korean newspapers as a case study because their newsroom composition has become diverse and intergroup relationships emerged as a key issue for newsroom management. Trust at work serve facilitates knowledge, information, and the skill set relevant to organizational survival. However, trust is not shared by everyone because status-based homophily governs the informal relationship. In particular, separated informal relationships between the majority with power and control and minority groups lead to the following research question of “which social characteristics of individuals that represent a symbol of social statuses at work generate homophily in journalists’ trust?” To answer this research question, the author incorporated network homophily and social identity theory as main theoretical frameworks and employed inferential network analysis with the Exponential Random Graph Model (ERGM) as a primary methodological approach. Considering the unique nature of local characteristics in South Korea, the author assesses five social statuses on South Korean journalists’ homophilous tendency in their trust network: (1) gender, (2) tenure, (3) academic prestige (4) recruitment, and (5) competence. In particular, a separate empirical analysis on two cases of the South Korean newspapers verifies whether status-based homophily is consistently found across the newspapers with different cultures and organizational composition. The inferential network analysis of ERGM identified tenure-based homophily for both newspapers, while recruitment-based homophily and competence-based homophily were only found in one of the newspapers. Gender-based homophily became statistically insignificant as additional status-based homophily terms were added, which shows its relative weakness in determining journalists’ homophilous tendency compared to other status-based homophily terms. Academic prestige-based homophily was not found to be significant for both newspapers. This dissertation will add more insight into the theoretical adaptation of the social network theory and its association with the journalism practice inside the newsroom. Primarily, newsroom managers will learn a practical implication of how to manage the growing diversity inside the newsroom to unlock the positive effect of diversity.Journalis