The 2020 Workplace

July 12, 2010
The rapid pace of technological evolution has led to a sea change in the workplace. Older workers are staying in the workforce longer, while younger employees are coming in equipped with skills and expectations that set them apart from their predecessors. In order to harness the potential of the Millennial generation, employers are forced to change not just the way they attract and retain talent, but also many of the assumptions they've made about the way markets work. In this in-depth analysis of evolving corporate practices, Millennial expectations, and the future of international business, Meister and Willyerd offer thoughtful tips, the latest in corporate training, and advice for negotiating this new workforce. However, while seemingly targeted at a wide array of people, the information contained in 2020 Workplace will be of use largely to managerial or Human Resources personnel with a specific lack of understanding about the expectations of Millennials. While that's a fine target, readers not in that niche will feel like they're being told something they already know.

Starred review from May 15, 2010
This is not your usual book on managing the next generation. Meister and Willyerd, cofounders of Future Workplace, describe a workplace that attracts and retains the "uber-connected" generation on the threshold of entering the corporate workforce and present an imaginative vision of the future. Themes of constant collaboration, ubiquitous connectedness, corporate responsibility, and global awareness are interspersed with abstract models for development in the workplace, concrete "first steps" for attracting and retaining talent, and real-life examples from early adopters of the 2020 Workplace model, primarily from the tech field. Anyone interested in building a workplace comfortable to the upcoming connected and techie generation should find ideas worth exploring here. Highly recommended.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.