BiF-4 Insights - James Ludwig - Steelcase

Gen Y Research:

• We now will have four generations in the workplace at same time


• How they work


• How they interact


• Tech savvy


• Have a lot of experiences


• They demand the best in technology immediately


• Gen Y is more motivated by having access to the latest than by money


• They also enjoy accessibility and collaboration

Collaboration is now part of the newer design schooling.

The youngest employees could have the best potential to teach CEO's how to successfully change culture.

"If you are 1-2 degrees off your course at the beginning, years down the line you are miles off-course."

Multi-generational teams (if you can pull it off) can be very capable and effective.

Designers gain insights and turn those into physical expressions:

• What are the tools to describe conceptual work? (film, etc.)

Roger Martin - Design-based business thinking

• Reliability-based people - They like title, etc.


• Validity-based people - Seeking outcomes

Deliver the message in the language that can be heard.

Gen Y - "Alternative Postures"

"At work" versus "On work"

Flow Shifting:

• multi-tasking a part of their time compartmentalization

"More important to have a distruptive point of view than a disruptive technology"

"How do we determine whether we have a powerful, distinct insight versus an imitative or idiotic one?"

For more information on the talk, go here.