The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow's Employees Today [Hardcover]

Jeanne C. Meister (Author), Karie Willyerd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2010

What companies need to know—and do—to win and hold on to tomorrow's best employees

The workplace of the future is being shaped today by Web 2.0—a collection of breakthrough social media technologies—and by the Millennial Generation, people born between 1977 and 1997. The convergence of these emerging workplace trends has created a generation of hyperconnected workers who are placing increased pressure on employers to overhaul their approach to talent management. In The 2020 Workplace, human resources experts Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd offer a practical game plan companies can use to attract and keep these employees, and, in doing so, transform their organizations; achieve compelling business results, such as increased innovation and improved customer connectedness; and compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

Based on key findings from two surveys of global professionals, as well as case studies from organizations such as Deloitte, Cisco, Bell Canada, JetBlue, Nokia, and NASA, this book shows how the social technologies that are used outside the company in marketing to connect with customers can be adapted for use inside the company to connect with employees. Meister and Willyerd bolster their thought-provoking research with real-world examples of these practices in action, including a YouTube new-hire orientation contest, the use of Twitter for sourcing job candidates, and a video game for new hires. With twenty predictions for the 2020 workplace and a glossary for those who have never texted, posted to Facebook, or Tweeted, this book is a must-read guide to what companies should do—and are already doing—to create tomorrow's workplace of choice.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

To those corporate executives and managers who’ve naysayed the power and transformational capabilities of Web 2.0, this book is for you––if you’re open to change. To those readers, consultants, and employees already embracing the world of social media, this collection of case histories, significant statistics, and personalized anecdotes will enable you to further the engagement within (and without) your organizations. Regardless, it is clear that author-scholar Meister and former chief learning officer Willyerd have tackled and tamed the tiger of talent. Be aware, within their recitation of the 10 forces shaping the world to the final 10 initiatives HR can spark to achieve the 2020 workplace, is an ever-growing concern that the formerly pooh-poohed death of talent will be real in a decade. Many of their lessons learned are standard operating procedure in professional literature and daily news, like the shifting demographics of the workplace and the demand for corporate social responsibility. --Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness; 1 edition (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061763276
• ISBN-13: 978-0061763274
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Human Resources & Personnel Management

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's always been about talent- now its about getting talent in a changing world, May 19, 2010

By 

Lawrence Peters "Professor of Management" (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow's Employees Today (Hardcover)

Every graduate course I teach begins with an outward look at the changes in the business environment over the past 2-3 decades. It helps students understand the need for change, for responsiveness and adaptiveness, and for leadership. It also frames everything I want to say about creating sustainable effective organizations. Meister and Willyerd's book, The 2020 Workplace, reminds us that part of the changes in the world around us includes the workforce itself, and that we need to consider those changes as we attempt to adapt and adjust our businesses to the dynamics of the business environment.

The 2020 Workplace begins by setting the stage for why the future workplace is going to be different. Advances in social technologies, shifts in demographics, and a global business environment will all affect the workplace of the future. The Millennial generation is a particular focus, since it is expected to be nearly 50% of the workforce in just four years.

In Part II, Meister and Willyerd showcase HR and Learning practices companies are using now to address those shifts. Examples include Deloitte's use of a video contest to help recruiting, internal social networks for collaborative communication at Cerner, several examples of mentoring and microfeedback, and leadership development at Cisco. Part III includes 20 predictions for 2020, such as electing your own leader, and concludes with advice on how to prepare for 2020.

In addition to substantial references to existing material, the authors conducted their own study of over 2200 employees around the world, and their research is presented in an accessible and engaging manner. Their extensive interviews with the featured companies make the book highly practical, and you are sure to get some ideas for use in your own company. The "52 Stories" example from Qualcomm is one that any company could use to help new employees understand and adapt to their culture.

Finally, the glossary is particularly helpful for readers who may not know terms or web resources like crowdsourcing, tagging, and Delicious. Overall, this is a practical and helpful book for HR practitioners who want to prepare their organizations to be ready for tomorrow.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forecasting Tomorrow's Workforce: Interesting Perspective, May 17, 2010

By 

Brandon Carson "Shemp65" (San Carlos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow's Employees Today (Hardcover)

"The 2020 Workplace," written by Jeanne Meister and Karie Willyerd, explores the lightning-fast changes occurring in the workplace now and over the next ten years. The book forecasts what managers, leaders, and executives need to know to ensure their business is ready for these changes. Meister and Willyerd skillfully present fascinating stories that provide examples of how people across generations and geographies are using technology, such as the social web, to get their work done. New ideas about management, collaboration, communication, and fostering creativity are presented with practical tips and tricks on how to evolve your organization to be prepared for tomorrow's talent today.

I particularly like how the book offers compelling research and data, but is not seeped in theory alone -- the authors offer suggestions and nice end-of-chapter summaries that are pragmatic and applicable to anyone in HR or management.

Recommendation: Buy it and read it. You may or may not agree with all of their forecasts, but at least you will know what you are facing when recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.

Especially a good read for HR managers, leadership and development people, and executives.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The role of informal learning in the new workplace, October 15, 2010

By 

Laurent Pacalin (Palo Alto, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow's Employees Today (Hardcover)

In "The 2020 Workplace", Jeanne Meister and Karie Willyerd make the point that the workplace of the future is being shaped today by Web 2.0 technologies. I, and the vast majority of Saba customers, agree! In a flat world where knowledge has become highly perishable, it is a strategic and critical imperative for organizations and employees alike to keep learning. Increasingly, learning in the workplace is expanding beyond formal and structured classes to informal learning. Winning organizations will want to nurture and harness informal learning by embracing Social Learning technologies and best practices. This book will be useful to the Chief Learning and Chief People Officers who want to drive and facilitate the development and transformation of their organizations and people.

Laurent Pacalin
SVP & GM People Learning
Saba Software