The Future Workforce Gen F

The Wall Street Journal's "The Facebook Generation vs. the Fortune 500"
-By Gary Hamel

Gary states that the Facebook Generation or Generation F will "expect the social environment of work to reflect the social context of the Web".  Companies that don't shift their management styles will find themselves "stuck in the mud".

Gary goes on with 12 work-relevant characteristics of online live

• All ideas compete on an equal footing rather than political power
• Contribution counts for more than credentials the content you post is your credentials 
• Hierarchies are natural, not proscribed influencers are not appointed, peers give it
• Leaders serve rather than preside credible arguments, demonstrated expertise, selfless behavior
• Tasks are chosen, not assigned the web is opt in
• Groups are self-defining and organizing online, you link up with who you choose, ignore the rest
• Resources get attracted, not allocated online, human effort flows towards good ideas
• Power comes from sharing information, not hoarding it the web is a gift economy, if you don't someone will
• Opinions compound and decisions are peer-reviewed the web is near perfect for aggregating the wisdom of the crowd
• Users can veto most policy decisions you may have built the community, but users own it
• Intrinsic rewards matter most humans give when they can contribute
• Hackers are heroes online communities ebrace the rebel

Our Take
A core component of online communities is the content management tools and processes.  Organizations can do well to manage their Internet communication strategies in-line with these processes.  The net effect - information is posted quickly & efficiently, the culture is consistent with tools your future resources is used to.