The Hunter Gatherers of the Knowledge Economy: The Anthropology of Today’s Cyberforagers
By David Berreby
 
Are the habits of today’s knowledge workers unique in history? Actually, the Gen X style of working appears to be the oldest on earth.

They want to come and go as they please, wear what they like, work the hours that suit them - and not too many, thank you - because they value a balanced life more than piling up possessions. They want to work in small groups and be a part of every decision. Direct orders set their teeth on edge. You must explain why you want them to do something or, better, show them by example. You earn their respect by doing what they do.

For many employers, especially in knowledge-based companies, this is the profile of the new generation of American professionals. Smart enough, yes, and able, but what a pain in the neck.

No doubt some employers hope that when the economic balloon finally comes down, so will the new kids’ attitude. Then that snotty generation of employees - the ones who quit on a dime, who do not like orders or rules, who call everyone by his or her first name and make every day Casual Friday, who have to be fulfilled and engaged every minute - will, at last, get theirs. As long skirts follow short and recessions follow booms, the day when the employer has the edge will come again. When the labor market tightens, there will be no more tolerance for torn T-shirts in the hall and dogs asleep under the desk. The guy who signs the check will be back in charge.

These are the introductory remarks by David Berreby, author of this brilliant Strategy & Business article, The Hunter Gatherers of the Knowledge Economy.  You have to log in to read the full article, but it is totally free and S&B is a great magazine.  It is worth it just to read Berreby!

Berreby nails it.  It was written almost 10 years ago (in 1999), but it still rings true.  He is talking about GenXrs more than Millennials, but this is interesting in itself.

As GenXrs find themselves in more managerial roles than they did a decade ago, they now have employees who are perfecting- yes Perfecting!- the kind of nomadism that they (we) attempted pre-dot.com crash.  This time around, though, conditions are different, millennial nomads are better armed, smarter, more entrepreneurial, more pragmatic and more idealistic.  This is, for BigCo, a lethal combination.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but they will have to prove it.  As we are currently trying to frame in our book (Bandit and I), the question, in terms of the Corporate/Millennial relationship, is: Who needs Who more?

Not sure we have an answers yet.  Any thoughts?

The Butcher