Inter-Generational Developmental Network and the Impact of Technology on Knowledge Creation and Sharing

Access to developmental networks contributes significantly to one’s career success by fostering creativity, innovation, new ideas, and new knowledge. The need for employees’ access to developmental networks is underscored by the increased necessity for open and constructive communication across multiple generations in today’s digital space. In this chapter, we will integrate the literature from developmental networks, generational cohorts, and social networks to enhance our understanding of inter-generational developmental networks and their impact on knowledge creation and sharing. Our review includes information on individual generational cohorts and their workplace characteristics, as well as provides characteristics and alternatives for constructing a successful developmental network based on each generations’ preferences and needs. This chapter is a step forward in closing the research gap between developmental network and knowledge sharing literatures from the integrated generational and social network perspectives. We provide some guidance for further research into areas that will strengthen our understanding of the intersections between generational cohorts, developmental networks, and social networking We conclude the book chapter with practical implications for employees from different generational cohorts as they become more intentional and strategic in choosing their developmental network; this intentionality will subsequently enable boomers to learn new trends and technology and millennials to further strengthen their growth.