Reciprocity and Exchange

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Exchange and Reciprocity Exchange and reciprocity affect the workplace with it comes to generational differences. Generational differences among old and young generations respond exchange and reciprocity in different ways that affects the workplace significantly. Due to having different values, concerns, needs, ideas and expectations, these generations behave differently regarding gift exchanges and reciprocity that have a great impact on their performance and organizational productivity (Neff 2008). For example, boomers consider trust, relationship and actual user of their knowledge before transferring their knowledge to others, while younger generation are more interested to share it and also use the internet and social media to access and share their information easily. Therefore, old generation do not see reciprocity, while transferring knowledge that can generate a negative environment at workplace (Walker & Lewis, 2009). On the other hand, a younger employee sees reciprocity by transferring knowledge, so that all can be benefitted in terms of improving work performance and productivity at workplace. Old generation can share its operational knowledge and working experience to younger generation and youths can exchange their technological knowledge, insights on specific products and customer offers to boomers that can be helpful in generating supportive culture at workplace (Ferguson, 2013). An employer offers monitory and non-monitory gifts to their employees by expecting from them that they would perform well in exchange of these gifts and benefits. Therefore, in exchange of recognition, professional respect, job security, old generation can give loyalty and higher performance and contribute in the success of the firm. On the other side, generation X and Y shows commitment towards achievement of organizational goals in the exchange of

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