Is the younger generation having an impact on how we work?

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When I was a kid I remember fathers carrying a briefcase to work every day, and I'll have to admit, I had one long ago too.  Times have changed a little bit, but most of us still tote around a laptop bag or backpack when traveling for work.  What has changed drastically is what is in our office carry case.  The old man used to drag with him items like office documents, the morning paper, his glasses, a book or two, some pens, a pad of paper and maybe a cassette tape recorder.  My primary reason for lugging a bag around today is my laptop computer, but am I more like the employee of the past or the professional of the future?

The next generation of office knowledge worker is walking next to us every day.  They had a cell phone or hand held game in their grip before they took steps.  Where our parents read the paper, they get their news from a computer, smart phone or pod cast.  We have coined the term "digital native" for them, but they know no different.  As we prepare to hand the reins of Corporate America over to them, what must be done to change the workplace in order to leverage their ability to utilize a digital workplace?  Research firm IDC says of the Net Generation, "they feel that their companies have not yet adopted electronic processes".  No one understands the functional limitations and multiplying expenses that extend from the use of paper and paper based processes better than this group.  The demand for real time information that is literally read from the palms of our hands is indicative of techniques that will drive future efficiencies in the workplace.  Ask yourself how many times, in the last month, you have sent or received business related email after 10PM at night.  What effort did you have to go through 15 years ago to find and read a document that you didn't bring with you on a business trip?  Today we have all to tools to bring our office with us when we leave the facility.

So what does the near future hold for knowledge workers?  Will they be doing expense reports on their I-Pod?  The digital natives are restless and they will decide soon.