The first generation to have grown up with the internet are now entering the workforce. They bring with them new concepts and approaches to social interaction, discovery and information sharing. They harness the power of the internet to realise faster, easier, richer forms of collaboration, building vast networks of contacts and knowledge of countless information sources. They cannot be ignored.

Organisations need to recognise that this generation of customers and employees have had their expectations raised by personal internet experiences. Companies must adapt to meet these expectations in order to attract and retain both talent and customers. Companies must understand these new methods if they are to meet or exceed employee and customer expectations. Failure to do so will rapidly result in widespread disaffection amongst the world’s most networked generation.

Organisations understand the vital importance of sharing information and knowledge. They are starting to appreciate additional benefits accrue if this information can be easily pooled and discovered. The greatest barrier to achieving this has always been established patterns of behaviour and a lack of straightforward, non-disruptive end user tools. The emergence of simple but powerful “Web 2.0” tools, coupled with the arrival of young but experienced users, may well be the catalyst for change.

For further information, download our publication The internet generation. (PDF, 182KB)