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Generations defined

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Abstract

With any discussion on the different generations, an important first step is to define the term ‘generation’. Traditionally, a generation has been defined as ‘the average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring’. This biological definition has placed a generation for millennia at around 20–25 years in span. While in the past this definition has served sociologists well, it is irrelevant today. Because cohorts are changing so quickly in response to new technologies, changing career and study options and shifting societal values, two decades is far too broad a generational span. Also, if we apply a biological definition today, a generation would span a larger time than ever as childbirth is pushed back later than ever. On average, the time between birth of parents and birth of their offspring has stretched out from two decades to more than three. In 1982, the median age of a woman having her first baby was 25, while today it is 31.2 So today generations are defined sociologically rather than biologically. A generation refers to a cohort of people born within a similar span of time (15 years at the upper end) who share a comparable age and life stage and who were shaped by a particular span of time (events, trends and developments).
Builders
1925-1945
Aged 70s - 80s
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Aged 50s - 60s
Generation X
1965-1979
Aged 30s - 40s
Generation Y
1980-1994
Aged 20s - early 30s
Generation Z
1995-2010
Aged kids - teens
Aust PM’s
US President
Robert Menzies
John Curtin
Truman / Eisenhower
Gough Whitlam
Malcolm Fraser
JFK / Nixon
Bob Hawke
Paul Keating
Reagan / GH Bush
John Howard
Kevin Rudd
Clinton / GW Bush
Julia Gillard
Barack Obama
Iconic
Technology
Radio (wireless)
Motor Vehicle
Aircraft
TV (56)
Audio Cassette (62)
Transistor radio (55)
VCR (76)
Walkman (79)
IBM PC (81)
Internet, Email, SMS
DVD (95)
Playstation, XBox, iPod
MacBook, iPad
Google, Facebook, Twitter
Wii, PS3, Android
Music Jazz
Swing
Glen Miller
Frank Sinatra
Elvis
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Johnny O’Keefe
INXS
Nirvana
Madonna
Midnight Oil
Eminem
Britney Spears
Puff Daddy
Jennifer Lopez
Kanye West
Rhianna
Justin Bieber
Taylor Swift
TV &
Movies
Gone With the Wind
Clark Gable
Advent of TV
Easy Rider
The Graduate
Colour TV
ET
Hey Hey It’s Saturday
MTV
Titanic
Reality TV
Pay TV
Avatar
3D Movies
Smart TV
Popular
Culture
Flair Jeans
Roller Skates
Mickey Mouse (28)
Roller Blades
Mini Skirts
Barbie®/Frisbees (59)
Body Piercing
Hyper Colour
Torn Jeans
Baseball Caps
Men’s Cosmetics
Havaianas
Skinny Jeans
V-necks
RipSticks
Social
Markers/
Landmark
Events
Great Depression (30s)
Communism
World War II (39-45)
Darwin Bombing (42)
Charles Kingsford Smith
Decimal Currency (66)
Neil Armstrong (69)
Vietnam War (65-73)
Cyclone Tracy (74)
National Anthem (74)
Challenger Explodes (86)
Haley’s Comet (86)
Stock Market Crash (87)
Berlin Wall (89)
Newcastle Earthquake (89)
Thredbo Disaster (97)
Columbine Shooting (99)
New Millenium
September 11 (01)
Bali Bombing (02)
Iraq / Afghanistan war
Asian Tsunami (04)
GFC (08)
WikiLeaks
Arab Spring (11)
Influencers Authority
Officials
Evidential
Experts
Pragmatic
Practitioners
Experiential
Peers
User-generated
Forums
Training
Focus
Traditional
On-the-job
Top-down
Technical
Data
Evidence
Practical
Case studies
Applications
Emotional
Stories
Participative
Multi-modal
eLearning
Interactive
Learning
Format
Formal
Instructive
Relaxed
Structured
Spontaneous
Interactive
Multi-sensory
Visual
Student-centric
Kinesthetic
Learning
Environment
Military style
Didactic & disciplined
Classroom style
Quiet atmosphere
Round-table style
Relaxed ambience
Cafe-Style
Music & Multi-modal
Lounge room style
Multi-stimulus
Sales &
Marketing
Print & radio
Persuasive
Mass / Traditional media
Above-the-line
Direct / Targeted media
Below-the-line
Viral / Electronic Media
Through Friends
Interactive campaigns
Positive brand association
Purchase
Influences
Brand emergence
Telling
Brand-loyal
Authorities
Brand switches
Experts
No Brand Loyalty
Friends
Brand evangelism
Trends
Financial
Values
Long-term saving
Cash
No credit
Long-term needs
Cash
Credit
Medium-term Goals
Credit savvy
Life-stage debt
Short-term wants
Credit dependent
Life-style debt
Impulse purchases
E-Stores
Life-long debt
Ideal
Leaders
Authoritarian
Commanders
Commanding
Thinkers
Co-ordinating
Doers
Empowering
Collaborators
Inspiring
Co-creators
Generations Defined
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