The importance of recognizing generational differences in HRD policy and practices: a study of workers in Qinhuangdao, China

Abstract

Amid the success of becoming a market economy and a member of the World Trade Organization, the response to China's economic reform is not the same across generational cohorts. The Cultural Revolution (CR) cohort, a by-product of the history of contemporary China, has been left behind. Based on the results of 384 highly structured interviews, this study found that the CR cohort sampled was the least satisfied with China's recent economic reform. The study calls for future research and collaboration among HRD scholars and practitioners to address generational differences and specifically the needs of the CR cohort.

Keywords:

• economic reform
• China
• Human Resource Development (HRD)
• generational cohort

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Baiyin Yang for his constructive comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this article. The authors would also like to thank Dr Jamie Callahan, Dr Toby Egan and Dr Homer Tolson for their contributions in the initial development of interview instrument. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 5^th International Conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. This research was supported by grants received from University of North Texas and Texas A&M University.