Thai generation Z communication satisfaction : implications for their ideal workplace

Abstract

Generation Z (Gen Z) is entering the workforce in masses worldwide. With their unique identities and backgrounds, these youngsters will be the future managers of their organizations. So, what should organizations do in order to prepare for their entry? This paper explores Thai Gen Z’s communication preferences to see how, through their daily interactions with peers, they communicate to shape and recreate their own experiences in working within a collective group and staying satisfied with how they work. A total of 15 Thai Gen Z participants were gathered for the qualitative investigation into their preferences on the 4 dimensions of communication: Quality of Interaction, Medium of Choice, Social Hierarchical Considerations, and Basic Values. Following the exploration of the 4 dimensions, a fifth dimension, their Ideal Organization, is discussed in terms of communication to compare with other generations and cultural contexts to offer a diverse insight into what managers can expect out of these young people. In terms of Quality of Interaction, Thai Gen Z were found to prefer well-appointed, non-repetitive conversations and interactions in the workplace. For their Medium of Choice, face-to-face communication was the most preferred medium due to its high information density. As for Social Hierarchical Considerations, due to them being raised up in a collectivist culture, Gen Z participants were mostly satisfactory with abiding by social cues with politeness and respect for their seniors in order to minimize obstructions to their work. With basic values such as Self-direction, Achievement, Universalism, and Benevolence as their highest values. Many similarities were observed in comparison with both other generations and other cultural contexts. The study provides both theoretical and practical implications relating to generational studies and organizational management.