Individual Differences _Week 1_Discussion Topic

Leadership and Organizational Behavior

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Leadership and Organizational BehaviorInstructor: Walter Brey

Week 1: Organizations & Individual Differences - Discussions Help

This week's graded topics relate to the following Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs):

A Given that people make the difference in how well organizations perform, assess how an understanding of organizational behavior concepts and theories is a useful knowledgebase for career success and for improving an organization's effectiveness.

BGiven the influence of factors such as values, attitudes, beliefs, feelings and personality on individual behavior, demonstrate how knowledge of individual difference factors helpin understanding, predicting, and influencing individual behavior. Use a diagnostic instrument such as the Life Styles Inventory (LSI) to assess your personal thinking andbehavior styles and their role in accomplishing self-improvement goals.

Topics for This Week's Discussion:

Introduce yourself to your instructor and the rest of the class. (not graded)"Satisfied Workers are Productive Workers" (graded)Individual Differences (graded)Q & A Forum... for your questions and comments. (not graded)

There is a drop down arrow next to the "Select a Topic" box. Click on this arrow to select topics for discussion.

Select a Topic: Individual Differences (graded)

Individual Differences (graded)

Assume you are an employer who is preparing to hire an individual for an important management position. The two finalists are both females. One is 53 years old, and the other is 25 yearsold. Identify stereotypes that you might have concerning these two individuals and discuss the impact of these stereotypes on the hiring decision.

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Walter Brey 26 Dec 09 6:45 AM MSTCLASS: this topic really gets at the values, beliefs, etc that are mentioned TCO B. It's interesting because the hiring process is a way to predict who isthe best person to be a successful employee. There are many factors that go into this equation. Potential stereotyping is just one concern. How couldyou mix up this situation drive deeper into things like perception, values, attitudes, and emotions in this selection process. What if one woman is whiteand the other isn't? What if we have two white men of different ages? What if we have a company owned by a German or Japanese investor, versus anAmerican investor. How do those factors influence this situation? What evidence can you find in the course text and other places to support yourperspective?

Corinne Hoffmann 4 Jan 10 7:22 PM MSTI was looking on line for some information on this topic and found a great article that touches on all the different types of discrimination and givessome statistics for 2009 about each of them. I found it to bed very eye opening about how much discrimination truly does go on, and if you thinkabout it, these are only the cases that are reported. What about all of it that goes unreported.I have copied an excerpt on the section about age discrimination below.

AgeThe March 2009 AARP Bulletin Today article, “Age Discrimination Claims Reach Record High,” states that “older workers, hit hard by the recentlayoffs and job losses, filed a record-high number of age discrimination complaints against private sector companies last year, the highest level inalmost two decades.

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“About 24,580 charges were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2008, jumping29 percent over the 2007 total for age discrimination, and even higher than the 15 percent rise in discrimination charges overall, which include claimsby race, sex and disability.”

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that workers age 45 and older form a large share of the long-term unemployed. Additionally, if older workerscan find a new job they can expect larger pay cuts. Older workers often get paid more so companies can save more money by laying them off.Despite more experience, younger and cheaper workers are often chosen first. Potential employers aren’t supposed to ask an applicants age but caneasily estimate it based on the date they graduated from high school or college. Consider not putting years on your resume; specifically the year yougraduated high school or college."

Full article can be found at:http://www.youngmoney.com/careers/what-do-these-have-in-common-gender-lifestyle-choices-and-age/

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 3:27 AM MSTCorinne, discrimination can be very subtle. The employer can find many "legal" reasons to not hire someone and it is hard to prove otherwise. Allof this discrimination starts out with some belief that someone has about an individual or a group of people. Those stereotypes bend good decisionmaking in the wrong direction.

Corinne Hoffmann 5 Jan 10 11:01 AM MSTTrue, it isn't always about what happened or whether it is right or wrong it is about being able to actually prove that discrimination happened andthen opening yourself up to so much critism if it should be investigated and go to court. Doesn't seem quite right if you are the one that wasdiscriminated against, but that is the system we have.

Sorry if I sound a little cynical, but I worked in the automotive industry (male dominated) for over 14 years and finally got out because I couldn'tstand to be paid 1/2 as much as the guy next to me who had 1/2 the responsibilities I did and was doing less that 1/2 the work I was. There weremany times and many different incidences in which I thought about taking action on this and other types of discrimination I had faced over theyears but always decided against it based on what I would have to go thru.Date Modified: 5 Jan 10 11:06 AM MST

Stefanie Perrone 5 Jan 10 6:23 PM MSTCorinne I was reading the article you posted and found it to resonate in my own experiences and what you have experienced as well. My firstjob out of college was with a major rental company and eventually I became part of the sales team . As you can imagine I had similarexperiences to yours. All I heard was great we need to promote more women but eventually I realized that was just all talk. Eventually, Irealized that I just couldn't be there and I truly didn't enjoy my job and hence now in school. Thanks for pointing out something that happensevery day. .

Vyacheslav Glukhovskikh 4 Jan 10 8:56 PM MSTWhat is stereotype:Stereotypes: Beliefs that associate a whole group of people with certain traits.Prejudice: Negative feelings about others because of their connection to a social group.Discrimination: Negative behaviors directed against persons because of their membership in a particular group.How Stereotypes Form: Social CategorizationThe classification of persons into groups on the basis of common attributes.Helps us form impressions quickly and use past experiences to guide new interactions.Serious drawback: By categorizing people, we often:– Overestimate the differences between groups– Underestimate the differences within groups.Employers should recognize that probably most people hold age stereotypes, consciously or unconsciously, and they negatively influence employmentdecisions

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 3:28 AM MSTVyacheslav, what is the impact of all this on the workplace? Do stereotypes force people into "gangs" in the workplace where they hang together tofeel psychologically safe?

Vyacheslav Glukhovskikh 7 Jan 10 8:36 PM MSTI would say "yes".The stereotypes are forcing the people to be connected by common thinking,which also effected on common attitude of your crew or shop,factorypersonel.Sometimes you can notice the different attitude from one group of employees to other group of employees.When I was working for Boeing you can easily recongnized the people by stereotype where they are working : on assembly lines for Boeing747,or Boeing 767,Boeing 777 or Dream Liner Boeing 787or people working in maintenance deparment.I would say those people feel psycohologicaly safe by acting in a similar ," ....Stereotypes are perhaps the last word in social ignorance. They are always inaccurate, insulting depictions of social groups. Most peopleloathe their group's stereotype, and resent any implication that it reflects them, their social group or their values. Getting rid of stereotypicalimages is an essential part of creating effective workplace diversity and social interactions. Stereotypes can be real obstacles to any sort ofworkplace dynamic. They repel the people who are being stereotyped and prevent interaction. They also reflect a serious lack of social education

http://www.youngmoney.com/careers/what-do-these-have-in-common-gender-lifestyle-choices-and-age/





















on the part of those who believe in the stereotype...."Date Modified: 7 Jan 10 8:41 PM MST

Walter Brey 8 Jan 10 4:22 AM MSTVyacheslav, depending on stereotypes as being the truth or the final determination of a person's value is totally ignorant and causes theorganization to lose out the value that a worker can bring to the customer, to the bottom line, etc. We can't dictate that co-workers, for example,get rid of their stereotypical thinking and become open minded to the others on the team. It's about education and it's about keeping employeesfocused on the work and not the side issues.

Vyacheslav Glukhovskikh 7 Jan 10 8:45 PM MSTTo be succesuful manager you have to try to breaking down stereotypesThere are a series of steps required to destroy stereotypes as a problem in the workplace. The preliminary work will need to be done to ensurethat the employer's policy on multiculturalism, workplace diversity and Equal Opportunity is unequivocally understood. This can be done with asimple issue of guidelines. Guidelines should state the employer's policy, and notifying staff that any grievances or disputes will receive attentionfrom senior management.

Foe example you can do this ;"...Group everyone together for a "Get to know you" meeting: Introduce each person; give some background to other staff. Ask them to give aquick introduction for themselves, their interests, and their career objectives. The aim of this exercise is to remove the stereotype and replace itwith a person. People's social instincts work on recognition skills, and this introduction establishes an identity with the rest of the workforce.Familiarity with that person will also alter perceptions over time, making the stereotype largely irrelevant in practical terms....."

Mark Chang 6 Jan 10 9:33 PM MSTIf we have two equally qualified individuals going for the same job and they are of different age groups and races we have many things to consider.The overall goal is to find the person who will be the best for the organization. Diversity is a key part in today's global business world. It should betaken into consideration that is would be wise to hire qualified individuals who bring different point of views to the table. If everyone has the samelimited thought process then the company would have been lost out. Good example would be with Universities. These schools do not only hire theirgraduates as professors, they hire many outside graduates which offers students a broader learning experience. In other words the students aren'tgetting limited points of view.

Mark Bacani 7 Jan 10 3:50 PM MSTThere would be many stereotypes for these two individuals. For the 53 year old stereotypes of old fashioned, and not being up to par in many aspectssuch as technology, social and communication skills, not team oriented, and conservative. For the 25 year old, stereotypes would include teamoriented, coachable, feels like they know it all, risky, not being told what to do, inexperienced , adaptable, and technology oriented. Believe it or not,although many companies want to get away from stereotyping, they still exist today.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 3:58 PM MSTMark, certainly stereotyping exists in almost every person on earth. It's hard to break out of those feelings or long held beliefs that we learned fromparents or friends while growing up. That is why it so difficult to cut through discrimination. But, in the workplace all employees (manager or not)needs to be aware that we can't be productive unless there is a respectful work environment.

Mark Bacani 7 Jan 10 4:08 PM MSTI understand you when you say stereotyping exists in almost every person on earth. But, they are always given a chance to break the stereotypewhether it be through interviews, work, and simple communication. A respectful work environment is needed to produce great work. When I wasin high school, I worked at jobs where I didn't like my managers and boss so I would just do the minimum. Now, I understand that it is difficultfor the managers as well, it is hard to keep employees motivated and happy when making them do their job.

Derrick Harden 3 Jan 10 6:34 AM MST53 year old sterotypes- Has experience with many different people of all age ranges(possibly), Set in her ways and not willing to change25 year old sterotypes- Hasnt had enough experience to make sound judgements(possibly), Able to work well with other employees due to age andmore willing to make self changes.

Walter Brey 3 Jan 10 10:05 AM MSTDerrick, aren't there plenty of younger people who are set in their ways and can't seem to learn or to grow? What does age have to do with thisanyway?

Derrick Harden 4 Jan 10 6:51 AM MSTThere are plenty of young people in todays society that DONT want to learn and grow and to be honest, but hate to say this but those sameindividuals arent in management and if they are they arent lasting long. When in management you have to be flexible, and learn through challengeand change. AGE shouldnt play a part but in the "work" world it does. For some odd reason, in my opinion, there are alot of politics in the workforce, especially when it comes to management.

Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 9:47 AM MSTDerrick, do you think that stereotypes about what managers should be gets in the way of what some managers want to be?

































Toyia Poole 5 Jan 10 1:58 PM MSTI would have to agree with that statement. I was a Sales Manager for 5 years and was constantly told that my job consisted telling people whatto do and making sure it got done. While I thought that was true, my job was also to lead my employees. If I am constantly telling them what todo but not showing them, how is that good management?

Derrick Harden 6 Jan 10 6:34 AM MSTToyia, thats a good question...How is that good management?? Not good management in my eyes. Most Managers believe and live by thefinger pointing.."Do this" and "Do that" is what constantly comes out managers mouth's. In turn, it leads to the employees not satisfied aboutthere jobs. I feel managers job is to not only lead a employee but to also aid an employee. THATS a manager!

Paul Mikita 4 Jan 10 7:12 AM MSTThe 53 year old1) experienced- Possible life and work experience with age2) will want to retire in 10 years -Older so will be thinking of retiring soon. will only get 10-15 years of work out of.3) what is the reason for a change in job at 53 -was she home raising kids4) set in her ways - harder to mold or conform to certain styles.5) older style of thinking- not new or hip

25 year old1) immature2) No experience- just starting in the work force3) child birth years- will take allot of time off4) Current generation- Not use to hearing NO...having everything handed to them. Spends more time with a device then in person. (texting)

Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 9:42 AM MSTPaul, are there "positive" stereotypes?

Carrie Beart-Caruso 4 Jan 10 7:23 PM MSTI will be the devil's advocate and look at the flip side of Paul's list :)

53 year old:1) experienced: not necessarily, may be entering a new field with no experience or may have been a stay at home mom or wife for her entire life.2) retire in 10 years: maybe not, may need to work until she's 90 for financial reasons.3) reason for job change at 53: could be anything, wants a change in her career, layoffs, was terminated, previous company closed, moved to a newarea, got divorced and now needs to work...4) set in her ways: not always, she may be be excited to learn new techniques making her motivated to succeed.5) older style of thinking: she may have just graduated with an advanced degree and could quite possibly know more than her 25 year oldcompetition.

25 year old:1) immature: may be a well educated, sophisticated, very mature young woman with strong work ethics eager to be successful.2) no experience: assuming she went to college, she may have worked in the field the whole time she was in school therefor making herexperienced and educated.3) child birth years: irrelevant...she may not want or be able to have children, she may already have children...a male can get into a car accidentand have to take alot of time off to recover...can't predict employee leaves of absence...4) current generation: technologically savvy, great multi-taskers

There are definitely 2 sides to every stereotype and you can not assume anything about an individual. Some of these stereotypes are actually inviolation of Equal Opportunity Laws and you can not make a hiring decision based on a very long list of things such as age, gender, marital status,disability, ethnicity,etc....unfortunately there is a fine line between what you are legally allowed to use to make a decision and the human nature ofour thought process and our conscious and subconscious stereotyping. It is sometimes hard to focus only on the hard facts presented about eachapplicant. I think once you have narrowed down your applicants based on their resume information and their interview skills, much of the hiringdecision is based on a gut feeling of who you feel will excel in the position and work well with the staff you already have in place.Date Modified: 4 Jan 10 7:30 PM MST

Paul Mikita 5 Jan 10 8:36 AM MSTTo be honest I'm having a hard time thinking of positives for the 25 year old. Experience is the number one positive for the 53 year old.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 9:47 AM MSTPaul, but that is where we can be more objective and walk a few steps away from stereotyping people--if the older person has more experience, isit the right experience? Did they really have certain experiences needed by the job or did they just watch others do the work and try to makeothers believe they did the work? We can start to probe and dig into the real value the person brings without looking at age or other things thatlock us into stereotypical thinking.

Nidia Jackson 5 Jan 10 10:14 AM MST



























My age falls into the latter group, however, I have applied for hundreds of management positions and have not been considered for any. Why? Ithink it's because of this stereotype that young people are inexperienced and are unable to make management decisions. This puts us in a bind. Wegraduate high school and further our education. However, sometimes, depending on your environment, you're not able to work and go to school at thesame time. So you lack work experience, but you think that because you earn a BS degree that you will have progressed further than those who choseto work and not go to school. This weighs too heavy and it makes me upset that I sometimes wished I had just gone to work instead of school.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:34 PM MSTNidia, and many times those who do not go to college are just as successful as those who do go to college. Things are changing in society aseveryone (almost) has a bachelors and masters degree. Now, individuals with degrees are a commodity-easy to find for almost any level job. Youmight be right about the stereotype. And it is hard to get the job without the right type of experiences. It's best to get started somewhere and workyour way to a better spot over time.

Neil London 9 Jan 10 7:48 AM MSTI agree with you totally. I know that maybe the 25 year old may have some good attributes BUT through my more than 40 years in the workplace invarious management areas I would always go with the older person. In most cases they are much more responsible. Younger workers are alwaysbouncing from job to job hoping to move up or whatever.

Adolph Cieplenski 4 Jan 10 10:04 AM MSTBased on the perception of experiences I have had, there are several slanted views I might have. These are attributes of what I want to expect (hope)from these applicants. I also know these positive expectations can be turned to negative results:53 yrs old: Positive: She is committed with a strong work ethic from the generation she is from as a baby-boomer. She is not ready to retire and wantsto contribute from her life experiences. She has been there and done that. She wears her bumps and bruises with honor.Negative: Will use more sick days, not able to relate to the younger staff, and not flexible to new ideas/methodologies.25 yrs old: Positive: She is energetic to make her mark on the world or at least this position. Has great book knowledge of current trends and theories.She can break down age barriers with younger workers. She works hard and plays equally hard.Negative: Clock watcher, like to socialize too much, and work is an inconvenient necessity.I understand where my projection of their strengths and weaknesses may affect my hiring decision, but isn't that what we all do daily in our owninteractions with others? All of my best analysis reduces down to, "Can they make me more money than problems?"

Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 11:49 AM MSTAJ, but many organizations are really interested in hiring younger workers (who will some day become older workers) for reason that go beyond thetypical stereotypes against the older worker. The 25 year--with the right guidance and mentoring and training--will be in the organization longer andcan make contributions for a longer period of time. These are the people who can become leaders in the organization say in 10 years while the 53year old will be retiring about that time. There are "strategic" reasons to hire the younger person versus the older worker. Most older people aren'thired for the future potential that they can bring to the organization.

Carrie Beart-Caruso 5 Jan 10 12:38 PM MSTIn addition, experience costs more so a 53 year old applicant with 20 years of management experience expects to be paid for that experiencewhereas the 25 year old with little or no management experience can be hired at a lesser salary and where they may lack experience they can betrained according to the companies management style/policy.

Adolph Cieplenski 6 Jan 10 10:56 PM MSTStatistically, today's workforce is not our parent's workforce. Today, we may stay at a company 5 years or less, then move on. The post-WWIIgeneration stayed for most of their career lives with one or maybe two companies in the same field, ie manufacturing, telephone, utilities, etc. Thisdiffering perspective of loyalty to a company would cause me to second think the younger applicant verses the older applicant who might give meup to 15 years of committed service. Remember, just like a first date through courtship, the applicant will tell you what you want to hear, alwayslook sharp, and smell good (bathing). What happens the day after the marriage (hiring)? It is anybody's guess.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 6:16 AM MSTAJ, that is a good point relative to stereotyping in the workforce. If we believe that all older people are really looking for long term life time jobsand that all younger people are going to work 2 to 3 years and then move on, we've set an artificial standard in the way we hire and treat peopleafter they are hired. If we assume a young solid employee will move on in a couple of years, they probably will because we reinforce thatthinking--we drive them out.

Igor Minin 4 Jan 10 11:12 AM MSTI think my classmates have covered most possible stereotypes already, so I would just provide the two major ones that would affect my decision:

- experience - management requires experience. This is a huge plus for the older candidate - assuming she has been a manager most of her life.- team to be managed - usually, employees in a team are reluctant working with someone of their own age (or younger - even worse) who appears to bein a higher position. Being effective in this role requires the manager to be really skilled - which ties back to the experience which a younger personmight often lack. This might lead to demoralization and thus lack of prudctivity, even though the manager could be top notch.

And another notion I wanted to add - I think sexual and racial discrimination in the US workforce (at least in the technological sectors) has really gonedown. At least from my workplace's standpoint, I do not see much of this at all - if the person shows the skills and enthusiasm needed for the position,race, sex or age are rarely a decisive factor.



























Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 11:45 AM MSTIgor, these are good examples of how specific stereotypes in the workplace can become. There are women who not want to work for or with otherwomen. We find that older workers are not happy to take work direction from a younger person. Do you think that perhaps the racial stereotypesmight have just gone underground and not at the surface level as in the past?

Igor Minin 5 Jan 10 10:46 AM MSTProfessor, to answer your question - totally. Don't want to start a war here, so I'll try to be as politically correct as possible :) I think the choicesmade right now that favor men over women and seem to discriminate against minorities are actually happening not because of these racial andsexual preferences of today, but rather due to these racial and sexual effects of the past years - it happens to be that due to discrimination andfinancial instability, certain groups were unable to get needed education for example. As such, in the workplace this comes as a driving factor, butappears to be a discriminatory factor.

This gap is narrowing down more and more. With minorities having access to the same education these days, these supposedly discriminatorypractices will vanish since the true education factor will not play a role. Look at the youths of today - social groups of kids younger than 20 havealmost no racial segregation whatsoever.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:40 PM MSTIgor, those points have changed (maybe slowly) over time and will continue to change as society changes. The stereotypes might also changeover time. To some extent it is true that younger people are bound by the old stereotypes as long as they aren't taught those things by the adults intheir life. But, it's interesting that as people get older they tend to buy in more to the stereotypes of others. Experiences in life sometimes drivethose under 20 to be more negative as they move into their 30's and 40's.

Mark Chang 9 Jan 10 7:35 PM MSTThat may be so. Our cultures have evolved greatly over the past 60 years. Today we have an African American President. Would this have beenpossible 60 years ago?. I do not believe so. But today as a people we are more evolved. I believe that we all to some extent stereotype. It does acompany no good to house stereotypes.

Rosalyn Cooper 5 Jan 10 8:32 AM MSTIgor, I agree that being in a management position does require experience in which you may get that from the candidate that is 53, but at the sametime the candidate that is 25 may have a college degree with little experience who is willing to learn the business.

I am sure that most of us have come across this during our job search. Then it goes back to the manage to make the decision on weather or not theywant to give the younger candidate a chance but maybe start them off at a lower position such as a Team Leader.

Igor Minin 5 Jan 10 10:51 AM MSTAbsolutely agreed. The experience and innovation are trade offs - this is where you draw the line and decide what are your goals. Do you want asolution that is guaranteed to work and be delivered on time, but most likely inefficient. Or do you want to risk failing, but yet in case of success -delivering something new that will make you rich?

I think The best environments have two categories of managers - young entrepreneurs savvy in technology and trends that bring innovation, andolder more experienced leaders that provide guidance and suggestions to these hotshots to minimize risks.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:49 PM MSTIgor, you've defined the typical large consulting firm.

Neil London 10 Jan 10 9:00 AM MSTI have been in management for many years I although I believe in giving the young individual a chance to see what they can bring to the table,there is a resistance because so many times I found they are not reliable.

Paul Mikita 5 Jan 10 8:42 AM MSTIgor you make a point i did not think of. You do have to take into fact the team the person will be managing. As you state people are reluctantworking for younger supervisors. This is most true when the work believes they should have received the promotion due to their seniority.

Jeanette Boleware 4 Jan 10 11:46 AM MSTEveryone, there are positives and negatives in hiring a 53 year or a 25 year old. Sometimes it really depends on the individual. It has been myexperience that whether younger or older, excessive time is taken off work for many reasons (health issues, dealing with children or aging parents). I'vehad the opportunity to work with supervisors and employees older, younger and within my age range. There really are some very mature youngeremployees as well as some experienced older employees. To me the only thing constant is change, therefore change is good. I've witnessed refusal toaccept change from older and younger employees. The individual that is able to assure me that she is the best candidate for the job will be the one hired,age doesn't matter.

Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 11:50 AM MSTJeanette, it really does get down to the individual and what they can contribute to the job at hand. That is why we need to get away from thestereotyping trap. But, what can managers and other employees do to stay out of that trap?Date Modified: 4 Jan 10 11:51 AM MST




































Jeanette Boleware 4 Jan 10 3:08 PM MSTContinuous training, mentorship, motivation and positive communication is one way to avoid the stereotyping trap. I found an interesting website:http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=801, that states, "To avoid stereotyping older workers employers need to train their managers andpersonnel staff about age diversity. This will involve, for example, thinking carefully about the kind of language used in adverts and interviews andchallenging some of the preconceptions managers may have about employing older workers. A common preconception is that older workers do notstay with the business as long as younger workers. However, many companies target older workers in order to reduce labor turnover."

Walter Brey 4 Jan 10 5:50 PM MSTJeanette, that does put some of the burden on the older worker. If you act and talk "old" all day, everyone will think that you are old. Thestereotype can be broken by demonstrating different behaviors than might be expected.

Paul Mikita 5 Jan 10 8:29 AM MSTYou make a good point with labor turnover and people are staying in the workforce longer.

Igor Minin 6 Jan 10 8:53 AM MSTAnd actually, i think that turnover statement is very interresting and brings in another view to the problem:

On one hand you are absolutely correct - an older person has retirement opportunities ahead of them and are very likely to quit in about 7 years(from the specific example). On the other hand, you are more than likely guaranteed that as long as that employee is satisfied with theirposition, they will stay at work for 7 years and possibly longer, especially if they are given a good incentive to stay at work.

With the younger folks, you will often see a 2-3 year turnover rate. Younger people looking for a challenge (and these are the constructive typesusually) are often attracted to a certain position by a problem at hand. Once that problem is solved and the project wonders into a more of a"maintenance" mode, these individuals get bored and are often likely to start looking for a new challenging position. So it's much harder tosatisfy their work desire and hold on to them for a long period of time...

So i think that turnover statement is not entirely true.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 6:13 AM MSTIgor, that is an interesting point. It might be better to have a solid employee for 5 to 7 years than a starter for 2 or 3 years. But, a lot of thatjust goes with running a business. People come and go all of the time. You do your best to keep the good workers. There is a point wheresome turnover is good and even the best people need to leave at some point. We don't want to get started with the entire selection processencumbered by stereotypes.

Toyia Poole 7 Jan 10 8:58 PM MSTI think education is and experience is key. Sure school doesn't teach you everything, but no one can take away your education or your experience.Enter any workplace with confidence and knowlege and sterotypes will easily be forgotten.

Walter Brey 8 Jan 10 12:51 PM MSTToyia, and proven results. Demonstrate that you can get the job done.

Kenita Judge 4 Jan 10 10:13 PM MSTJeanette, I agree with your statement. While on active duty, we really didn't have people working who were much older than 40-45 years of age.However, I have dealt with younger people who seemed to have better work ethics than the older employees. I also know some people who are olderthat are just as active and energetic as 25 year olds. It really doesn't matter the age of the employee. What matters is the effort that they bring to thejob and bring about the most productivity.

Felix Nuako 4 Jan 10 7:03 PM MSTAccording to the textbook workforce diversity has increased both here and abroad so to my understanding the age is a number,the key is the one whocan perform the assgn duties to meet the company goals. or targets.Both individuals needs to be train and ready to adopt to a change, so for this inquestion,is the 53 year old or the 25 years old.I think the 53 years old can bring a lot to the table in terms of experience and how to deal with people ifonly she is willing to change to the corporate culture which will bring positive results to the company.Unlike the 25 years old,there is no experience butthe company can train such a person to acquire the managerial capabilities in other to perform the require duties.One thing to remember it will takesome time for the younger person to acquire the training and experience.Date Modified: 4 Jan 10 7:49 PM MST

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 3:25 AM MSTFelix, so in the end we really don't know who to hire because both have some pluses and some negative points. We don't want to get caught up in ageas that is cleary discrimination in hiring practice--but age discrimination is a live and well in this country. What is the criteria to hire someone andavoid the stereotypes?

Felix Nuako 7 Jan 10 10:10 PM MST




http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=801

































I think hiring process should base upon the qualities the person will bring to the table and also take the experience into consideration so they shouldgo for the older person of 53 years old.

Nidia Jackson 5 Jan 10 10:18 AM MSTQuestion: Who feels that earning a BS/BA degree puts them ahead of those who haven't earned a degree? When you go to school, you feel a sense ofaccomplishment and you have increased your self-worth, therefore there are certain things you are looking for when you are employed. You expect tobe paid according to your skills and accomplishment. However, you sometimes have to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. But couldn'tyou have just gone to work in the first place and done the same thing? There is nothing wrong with starting at the bottom.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:48 PM MSTNidia, you might have a better self concept when you graduate from school and the "self imposed stereotypes" about yourself might be put in checkfor a while. But, in the end you still have to use those skills and learn more on the job. It's not just about going to school. It's about delivering andlearning more on the job and within the organization. If you can take your desire to learn and grow into the workplace, that will be an advantage inkeeping the job you have and going further.

Rosalyn Cooper 6 Jan 10 10:20 PM MSTNidia, I felt like this after I earned my Associates Degree. I was willing to take on any position just to have some experience. I had never worked inan office which didn't make me marketable at all. When I earned my Bachelor Degree, I really was thinking that the job market would be a littlebetter in offer more opportunities. I still feel a sense of accomplishment for earning two degrees. Within the Accounting field you have to workyour way up to the top,but they do start your pay off that goes with your degree and experience.

Nidia Jackson 8 Jan 10 8:45 PM MSTThanks for that Mrs. Cooper. I didn't mean to sound like I was putting a person beneath me who doesn't have a degree. However, it just makesme question myself about choosing routes. I won't decrease my self-worth because there are stereotypes. I will continue to strive for what it is Iwant and hopefully with upcoming managers, as we are, we should try and encourage others to stray away from stereotyping.

Rosalyn Cooper 9 Jan 10 7:22 PM MSTNidia, you are not putting a person beneath you just because you are continuing your education. I agree that managers should consider giving arecent college graduate a chance to prove that they can also do the job if giving the chance.

Toyia Poole 9 Jan 10 5:01 PM MSTI am at the point in my life (and I think you have to be with this economy) that I have no problem starting from the bottom. I love management,and the jobs I am applying for require less experience than what I have. That is okay with me. The biggest mistake I made with my last job is thatI didn't learn the company. That made it hard for me to be confident in my decisons as a manager because I could not answer half the questions Iasked. Even after 5 years, I never quite gained the confidence or knowlege I needed to become successful. Now I have a better understanding ofthe tools needed to be successful so I can go into an entry level management and do well.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:46 AM MSTToyia, that is a good point of view. We likely live in an age when most people will have to reinvent themselves several times before retiring.And, that is a good to not be burdened by worrying about being stereotyped. Just get out and find a new way to make a living and have acareer.

Adina Nicholas 5 Jan 10 9:35 AM MSTThis is actually a big discussion in my house since I live with my mother (children's dad became violent). She is in her 50's and I am in my 20's and herjob let her know last year that they were shutting down her department. She is one of the few that is still left but she knows that she will no longer havea job summer this year. We are both going into the job market but she feels that it will be harder because of her age. She has acquired her Associatesdegree and is currently working towards her Bachelor's so that she has a competitive edge against the less educated/experienced people and is nowworking on revamping her Resume. I on the other hand am working towards my Master's because I know that I will need that competitive edge to get ahigh paying job to support my family.

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 9:42 AM MSTAdina, it is important to have the right education to at least have your resume considered. But, the competition will be tough and stereotyping willprobably come into play. The older person will have a harder time making the right first impression in front of many recruiters. They will just figureout the age from the resume and make a quick decision. Many organizations will not even attempt to interview workers in order to avoid anypotential discrimination issues. Is this the length we've gone to---avoiding people to protect the organization from law suits? Has the underlyingissues around stereotyping taken us to that point?

Carrie Beart-Caruso 5 Jan 10 1:01 PM MSTStereotyping is human nature. Everyone has preconceived thoughts or judgements about people based on what they have experienced, seen, orheard throughout their life about different groups of people. It is very hard to look at a person objectively without subconsciously forming anopinion of them. I honestly don't think narrowing down an applicant pool without meeting them based solely on resumes is a bad idea, theninterviewing in person the final few that meet the requirements of the position. Companies are very much as risk for discriminatory lawsuits andmany times the alleged discrimination was not vicious or deliberate. We have to go to required seminars on an annual basis to be trained ondiscrimination, harassment, diversity, and sensitivity and unfortunately the list of things you can ask or say to an employee or potential employee isgetting shorter and shorter.

































Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:42 PM MSTCarrie, do all of these laws and penalties do anything to reduce the stereotypes that are out there? Or do the laws just keep a check on outwardbehaviors that get companies into trouble?

Carrie Beart-Caruso 6 Jan 10 1:49 PM MSTI think the laws main cause is to keep companies in check to ensure that no employee or potential employee is discriminated against or harassedand that all groups of people are protected. I also think that by mandating training and educating employees about these laws can make somepeople realize that perhaps some of their behaviors or thought processes are stereotyping and may influence them to change their thoughtprocess for the better and in turn reduce some stereotyping. I personally don't think there is a way to completely eliminate stereotyping as I feelit is human nature and formed from our life experiences.

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 2:31 PM MSTCarrie, when it comes to EEOC type of compliance issues the training of employees is critical. It is important to keep good records of eventsin the organization. I believe that over many years there has been an impact on organizations from compliance training. That is why I believethat stereotyping has more or less gone underground. It's still there, but more subtle and not spoken about.

Adolph Cieplenski 7 Jan 10 10:09 AM MSTI would agree that many of the past "in your face" discriminations have gone underground but they do raise their head in other areas. In theconsideration of our age discussion, the EEOC website: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/adea.cfm, the statistics show thatthe many who do file are often found without cause. These stats don't suggest this is the height of the problem, but I believe it shows onlythe tip of the iceberg in reality.

Adina Nicholas 6 Jan 10 8:11 AM MSTYes it is the length that we have gone to, to protect the organization from lawsuits. I actually called a hospital Monday morning at 3am because my17 month old was very, very ill (this is following an 8hr stay at the ER on Sunday so I am freaking out that he got something from there). I wasasking them for any advice that they could give me as far as something to give him for his upset stomach, like what kinds of juices/drinks, crackers,etc. They would not give me any advice, they said that there was nothing that they could recommend. I called another hospital and they were morethan happy to assist me (7up and saltines, that was all I needed to know)!

I also have seen stereotyping first hand at my last employer. They would higher the older people and then put them into lower paying crap jobs thatdidn't require much and had no chance for moving up. They would also promote and ignore tardiness and other issues from their favorites andnicely figured women whom wore low cut shirts and skirts. Many of our managers had gotten in deep trouble for having relations with our lowerlevel associates, it became disgusting to watch and even though I was moving up I did not want to work for a company that promoted thatatmosphere.

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 2:34 PM MSTAdina, from those experiences you could develop a "stereotype" about that company. You might end up believing and telling others that thecompany is a bad place to work and the managers there are terrible people. This might be true of some managers and not all people hate workingthere. But, it doesn't take much to develop an overall opinion of the organization without thinking about the exceptions.Date Modified: 6 Jan 10 2:35 PM MST

Nidia Jackson 5 Jan 10 10:03 AM MSTFor the 53 year old:-too old to conform-more experienced-cost company too much insurance-physical well being may not be up to par

For the 25 year old:-willingness to conform to change-too young to be experienced-is up to date with technology--has the physical ability

These are only a few that I am familiar with. I think it's a hard decision to deal with because each person is unique in their own way. I would hate topass judgement based on stereotypes. I will make my decision based upon a structured set of questions (what do you have to offer to this company, doyou think this company will benefit you, what are your goals at the end of the day, etc)

When you use stereotypes, it clouds judgement and you overlook that person's overall qualities, therefore, I am not a judgmental person. I try to be asequal regardless of "what has been said or stated."

Walter Brey 5 Jan 10 2:44 PM MSTNidia, how do you do that? How do you stay away from stereotypes in your own life? Don't you really think it's better to hire a younger person versusan older person if the two had similar education and relevant experience for the job?













http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/adea.cfm


















Nidia Jackson 5 Jan 10 7:31 PM MSTWhen the two have similar education and relevant experience, it's hard to narrow it to one person. However, I am not just going to say that I amgoing to hire the younger person because she's young. Or on the contrast, I'm not gonna reject the older person because she's old. Based on my ownspecific set of criteria, I have to play a game of "sudden death" at this point, and may the best man wins.

Kenita Judge 5 Jan 10 6:27 PM MSTI feel like the best qualified person for the job should be hired for the position. The stereotypical factors should not be considered. The employer shoulddetermine who is best suited for the position based on their qualifications. I understand that stereotyping is prevalent in the work force but it seems thatemployers should focus more on what the company needs instead of their preconceived ideas on who would be the best employee. In the Navy, we aretested on our knowledge of rate and navy culture. The ones who are advanced may be good at taking test, but that doesn't mean that they are qualifiedfor the position. That takes a certain degree of training and leadership enhancement that is provided through the course of the advancement. If given theopportunity, a individual that has the desire to do the job can be just as effective as someone who has the greater amount of experience.

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 3:20 AM MSTKenita, I agree that the way to cut through the stereotypes in the hiring process is to focus on the needs of the job and not the stereotype associatedwith that person. But, how do we get rid of this stereotyping mentality in the workplace? Doesn't this hurt the organization overall and get in the wayof having a employee friendly work environment?

Adolph Cieplenski 7 Jan 10 10:14 AM MSTProfessor, if all the qualifications are equal, wouldn't it then be appropriate to have a selection panel adjudicate the cultural fit within the companyso one person's opinion is the sole decision? This has worked well in previous companys I have worked.Date Modified: 7 Jan 10 10:15 AM MST

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 12:31 PM MSTAJ, sure that can be done. Typically, there is a recruiter and others who interview the candidates. So, all of those people should meet and discusstheir impressions of the candidates and try to reach some level of consensus as to the right one to hire. Even a group of managers and HR, etccan have a stereotype attitude or perspective as to the needs of the organization. It doesn't take much to cancel out a candidate in thosediscussions. Usually everyone agrees with the decision of the highest level person in the room.

Kenita Judge 9 Jan 10 8:53 PM MSTStereotyping does hurt the work environment but I think it is just part of our society. Equal oppportunity managers provide questionaires that enableemployees to answer questions that show problem areas, so this is may be one solution to helping get rid of the problem. If the job requirements areapplicable to the job, age or stereotyping shouldn't matter in the employee selection process.

Stefanie Perrone 5 Jan 10 6:33 PM MSTToday I was actually asked this very question at work. Working with undergraduate students, we often hear why should go back to school if I am 40?50? The obvious reason is to say yes, getting an education is always important. But today the student told me that although he has a Bachelor's as hestarted getting older getting a new job just became harder. Now he needs to update his credits to stay current and he wonders if it is worth it since hefeels if he goes against a person half his age he won't get the job. I guess my thoughts were to say you must try and not give up, especially if you arebeing told you need to update your education, but I know how hard to follow those words must be. I'm sure employers are faced with this every dayand it must be tough. Some employers probably want someone who is a blank canvas, someone that does not have preconceived motions and might beeasier to train. Some employers may want to pay less and feel they can do that to a 25 year old and not to a 53 year old.

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 3:23 AM MSTStefanie, this is where the stereotyping can get inside the head of the individual and block them from moving forward. It's yet another danger in thisway of thinking and behaving. The individual that you mentioned is not thinking bigger and trying to see all of the career options that are available.It's easy to get into a box and use age and years of experiences as a locked door.

Stefanie Perrone 6 Jan 10 1:23 PM MSTI completely agree, the individual was not thinking the bigger picture which is that education furthers the opportunities. In regards to hiring itshould just be done to the best person for the job regardless of age, gender or origin. Unfortunately biases might be entrenched for the hiringmanagers so what would be a good idea is to have more than one person involved in the hiring process and in rounds.

Jeanette Boleware 6 Jan 10 9:42 PM MSTStephanie, Instructor Brey and class, there is a quote known as "Knowledge is Power." John Fitzgerald Kennedy once said, "in a time ofturbulence and change, it is more true than ever that knowledge is power” and Steve Droke said, "Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls theswitch.”

http://en.thinkexist.com/reference/knowledge_is_power_quotes/

The higher you accomplish in education, whatever your age, the better your opportunities. Unfortunately, there are some closed-mindedindividuals that will try to put a damper on older individuals. There is also just as many bigger minded individuals that will give the job to thebest candidate, regardless of your age. My parents once said to me the old cliche', "if at first you don't succeed try, try again," quoted by Hickson,William E.




























http://en.thinkexist.com/reference/knowledge_is_power_quotes/



http://quotationsbook.com/quote/40050/Date Modified: 6 Jan 10 9:46 PM MST

Stefanie Perrone 7 Jan 10 7:39 AM MSTJeanette great quotes and so appropiate especially for this class and this economy.

Barbara Calkins 9 Jan 10 8:34 PM MSTI think I am that older person you mentioned, Stefanie. I think that being over 50 means that I will get beat out by someone in their 20's. I have hadthat happen to me on more than one occasion. I am skeptical for my future, but feel I have a better chance having a masters degree and a betterwork ethic than someone in a younger generation.

Adolph Cieplenski 10 Jan 10 12:18 PM MSTBarbara, I am also in the 50+ crowd and just got hired into a job where, maturity and experience were required qualities. Anyone can learn thework processes, but to make time critical decisions to protect lives and property, proven experience is the key.

Barbara Calkins 10 Jan 10 8:09 PM MSTCongrats on your new job. It sounds like the kind of job that does require maturity and experience. There are positives and negatives to being inthe over 50 crowd. Yes, they are not going to be around as long as the younger crowd, but they are more stable, have lower turn over rates, andthe experience. (text p. 53)

Kenita Judge 10 Jan 10 8:56 PM MSTBarbara,

Working in the military, I am used to being around a younger group. However, once I left active duty and joined the reserves, I noticed thatthere were a lot of people in the 50+ category still in the reserves and performing as well if not better than the younger generation. I thinkthat you are correct that older people are more stable and reliable and a lot of companies look for that in their employees. I think each grouphas its pros and cons but I have found reliable personnel in both age groups. I think it basically depends on the individuality of the person.

Paul Mikita 6 Jan 10 6:53 AM MSTI have read multiple articles on the subject of generation Y in the work force. There's positives and negatives but what I have read mostly is negativeissues with this generation. As stated in the below link, "Generation Y is much less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type ofmanagement still popular in much of today's workforce. They've grown up questioning their parents, and now they're questioning their employers. Theydon't know how to shut up, which is great, but that's aggravating to the 50-year-old manager who says, 'Do it and do it now.' "

http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2005-11-06-gen-y_x.htm

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 9:59 AM MSTPaul, but isn't there a point where the work has to get done? Isn't there a point where enough questions were asked and not it's time to get on with it?Date Modified: 6 Jan 10 10:00 AM MST

Jodi Gassel 6 Jan 10 11:43 AM MSTI can't wait to be in this position...Now, I would look at my 25 year old female candidate and think to myself is she going to get pregnant soon andleave? Is she too immature to manage people older than herself? Will her staff respect her because of her lack of experience in the work force? I wouldlook at my 53 year old female candidate and think to myself is she too set in her ways and consequently not buy-in to my process? Will she haveenough drive to succeed? Will she be able to work long hours?

Bottom line- hiring is a crap shoot! I agree with what Carrie said. "You hire someone on a gut feeling."

Walter Brey 6 Jan 10 2:37 PM MSTJodi, we use to say that you don't know for about 3 years if you hired the right person. But, this is also beyond the selection process becausestereotyping impacts co-workers and how they relate, it gets in the way of promotions, etc.

Bart Saunders 6 Jan 10 3:07 PM MSTThe first stereotype that jumps out at me is obvious... age difference. The difference of age could be viewed two ways for me.

1. The older woman is more experienced and therefore more capable of holding a management position.

2. The younger woman is not as set in her ways and therefore will be more willing to administer change.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 5:52 AM MSTBart, not just in hiring, but overall, how do we deal with these stereotypes? How do we--manager or employee--create a work enviornment where wedon't get trapped by the stereotypes and create a negative work workplace?

http://quotationsbook.com/quote/40050/



















http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2005-11-06-gen-y_x.htm


















Bart Saunders 8 Jan 10 6:49 AM MSTI think the best way to deal with these stereotypes is to create an environment that encourages all employees to get to know each other in a morepersonal way so that they can see beyond age, gender, and race.

Neil London 6 Jan 10 7:16 PM MSTThere are a number of stereotypes that come to mind depending upon the age of the two women. To begin I would feel with the older women, maybe aknow -it-all and that she may not want to do as asked. She may feel she deserves a much higher salary for her years of experience.I might look at herand think she'll be out sick a lot because she's old.I may look at the 25 year old and feel she has no experience to bring to the company and will have be taught everything. I would also think that shewould be more interested in not coming to work if it's a nice day because she would rather be at the beach.I would have get beyond these stereotypes to discover the real assets each could bring to the company and make a decision on that.Date Modified: 6 Jan 10 7:17 PM MST

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 6:02 AM MSTNeil, how do you get past the stereotypes as an individual? What can managers do to help their employees get past the stereotypes or from creatingnew stereotypes? We know right from wrong when it comes to this topic. But, to have a constructive plan to improve the existing situation is hard.Stereotype attitudes among workers is subtle and do not always appear in dramatic behaviors. It's hard to see.

Phobeh Turay 6 Jan 10 11:05 PM MSTSome stereotypes could be that the 53 year old might be considered too old and close to retirement age, she might not bring fresh ideas to the table andcould be set in her old ways. On the other hand the 23 year old might be considered too young, inexperienced, well within child bearing age, she alsomight not be viewed seriously as a manager.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 6:03 AM MSTPhobeh, so in this case neither person is the right one to hire? How do you resolve this issue?

Phobeh Turay 7 Jan 10 11:37 PM MSTI will take my chance with the 53 year old because some of her stereotypes could be used to her advantage. For example her age could beassociated with experience and knowledge. She is most likely accustomed to a set lifestyle with limited surprises like starting a family or suddenlychanging career paths. Overall she has more pros then cons.

Shawnne Mcmillion 7 Jan 10 12:29 AM MSTI think stereotypes do impact hiring decisions whether or not we want them to influence our decisions. Noting that both are finalists, leads me to believethat they are equal in every other area. My own personal stereotype would be that the candidate that is 53 would be more stable, grounded and seriousabout their work. She would have a good work ethic and if she had children, they would be grown. She would offer more real world experience and beable to make decisions based on that exepreience.

On the other hand, the stereotype that I would have about the 25 year old would be that they are not as experienced and less serious about work. Theymay not have clear career goals and are more likely to job hop.

These stereotypes may not allow me to choose the best qualified person for the position. I would want to think I was uninfluenced, but my age is closerto the 53 year old so I could more to them and transfer my own qualities to them, making the assumption that she would be more like me.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 6:06 AM MSTShawnne, how does the age of the recruiter impact the stereotype? If the recruiter is young he or she might see the 53 year old woman in negativeterms. But, an older recruiter might be more sympathetic to the older candidate and have negative feelings about the younger person.

Carrie Beart-Caruso 7 Jan 10 4:32 PM MSTGood point, I never took the recruiter's age into consideration and that would definitely influence their opinion of the applicant like the example youstated. A recruiter may also stereotype based on the area the person lives in or their name. I know that when I have an application submitted to mevia email and I have not seen or spoken to the applicant, sometimes if they are from a "rough" area or have a certain type of ethnic name, youalready start to wonder or make some assumptions about the applicant. I am not condoning this but it is how the mind works, so the recruiters job isto try and put those assumptions to the side and focus on the applicants' qualifications and interviewing skills.

Shawnne Mcmillion 8 Jan 10 3:22 PM MSTCarrie, you make another good point. Not only does the person's name and area where they live play a role but also where they went to college.

Shawnne Mcmillion 8 Jan 10 3:17 PM MSTThe age of the recruiter definitely impacts the stereotype. An older recruiter would be able to relate to an older applicant. They would be lookingfor characteristics that they, themselves, possess. A younger recruiter would be doing the same thing. The age of the recruiter may also be areflection of the type and culture of the company that is doing the hiring.

A company like Google would have a young recruiter who would be looking for a young "tech" savvy employee with plenty of ideas. Whereas a




































company like Proctor and Gamble would have a older recruiter who is looking for a older more experienced employee with a strong sales andmarketing background.

Even though each of us has our own biases, perceptions and stereotypes, that could greatly influence our hiring decisions, I think from a recruitingstandpoint, that recruiter reflects the culture of the company and the person selected would be someone who could also fit in.

This assumption is still based on stereotypes because there are also many "tech" savvy older people who would feel very comfortable working atGoogle.

Age is a factor and so is gender. I have seen male managers hire attractive younger female employees. That raises another issue.

Walter Brey 9 Jan 10 6:12 AM MSTShawnne, that is a good point. We do relate to certain people better than others and age does make a difference. I haven't seen it in this class, butin past terms many of the students are very biased against older people. It's amazing to be against all types of bias and stereotypes, etc and stillthink that all older workers are slow, sick all the time, don't understand technology, etc.

Phobeh Turay 8 Jan 10 9:57 PM MSTHi Shawnne,It’s seems that we both have similar reasons as to why we would choose the 53 year old candidate. I am very close in age with the 25 year old but Iwould still choose the 53 year old, even though I am a hard working young female who has been working since I was 17 years old. I am also a verydedicated worker with 9 years of experience. Although I am a serious young women many my age aren’t.

Shakira Patilla 7 Jan 10 1:37 PM MSTSome unfortunate but common stereotypes for this situation would maturity levels, health issues, experience, and longevity. One could assume that the53yr old woman has more experience and would be more mature professionally than the 25yr old. A manager may also consider the health issuespossibly affecting the older candidate, which may reflect medical benefits. If the 25yr old is still in school, an employer may assume she may not beemployed long term or be able to work the hours needed due to studying and classes. These are all pre assumptions managers have to deal with whenconsidering new hires.

Walter Brey 7 Jan 10 4:07 PM MSTShakira, so certain people just never have an opportunity in the workplace because of stereotyping? How do individuals get around this? Do youthink that most people even know that they are a "victim" of stereotyping?

Carrie Beart-Caruso 7 Jan 10 4:27 PM MSTMany companies now request applications and resumes be submitted to the HR department online or via email. This can be one way of preventingcertain stereotyping because the recruiter will be making a judgement of the applicant based on their credentials and being that you can not asksomeone's age and most resumes do not have date indicators on them, the only way you can get an idea of someone's age would be on how manyyears of work experience they may have. This may narrow stereotyping down a little bit and let the recruiter focus on the applicants education andwork experience.

Walter Brey 8 Jan 10 4:12 AM MSTCarrie, the law provides controls over what a job candidate needs to expose to the future employer. That creates more of a blind spot when itcomes to sorting through the resumes to decide who comes in for an interview. However, that process usually starts with the telephone screen-interview-and the recruiter can figure out if this is someone they like or do not like despite their credentials. It doesn't take much to havestereotypes come into play.Date Modified: 8 Jan 10 4:13 AM MST

Adina Nicholas 8 Jan 10 8:48 AM MSTCarrie, I agree with you! I love applying to a job online because I know that they will not be judging me by my looks, I keep my personalappearance up but right before an interview I always catch myself saying something along the lines of "I wish I would have worked out more" or"I should have gotten my hair cut." In my mind I know that the skinnier and more high maintenance I look the better off I stand to get a good jobbecause people think that if you take care of yourself then you can do the work better. Also luckily my mother and I sound the same over thephone so she could sound younger and I could sound older than what we really are!

Shawnne Mcmillion 8 Jan 10 3:42 PM MSTI do believe that gone are the days of walking into a company and filing out a job application and giving it to the receptionist. This is good in thatit does eliminate stereotypes, but it also added facet to the interview process.

A forklift operator now has to be able to use a computer to write a cover letter and resume and submit it via email. His writing skills may beevaluated and that could also lead to stereotypes, especially if he does not know how to express himself in a written format.

This method does offer a way around the old way of applying for positions. It could get someone an interview who might have been excludedbefore.

Shakira Patilla 9 Jan 10 4:06 PM MST






























I think they will have the opportunity but the odds are against them in some situations. Individuals can try to get around this by presentingthemselves in a way other than what may be assumed. I have always tried to be VERY professional and present every bit of work experience I canthat relates to the job. Whenever I see that some other candidates are older I feel a bit threatened, so I put my best foot forward and hope for a goodoutcome. Sadly there are some people that do not know they may be a victim of stereotyping. Some others that think they will be discriminatedagainst don't even apply. The ones that have an internal heads up can just better prepare themselves during the application process and interviews.

Mark Chang 9 Jan 10 8:04 PM MSTI agree Shakira. It is important for employers not to stereotype and choose the best applicants for the job. Stereotyping only limits the companiesvision pertaining to selecting employees. Like you said it is sad, and it really does happen. Hopefully over more time view points will get better.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:43 AM MSTShakira, it is true that people will avoid trying certain things on the job or even applying for a job because of fear of stereotyping and bias. I thinkthat many older worker feel that way. Or, at least many feel that while they will apply for a job there is little chance of getting the work becauseof their age.

Benjamin Machado 7 Jan 10 6:43 PM MSTFrom what I have read in the post I can see that my classmates have covered most of the common stereotypes concerning these two individuals. I sawthis issue at a previous employer, the company hired the older person for the position and it turned out to be a nightmare, she was there to put in hertime until retirement, did not get along with people and did the minimum to get by. She was let go and a younger person was hired for the position andit was completely the opposite. So I guess it all depends in the person and that is why I believe that interviews do not reflect the true person. There arepeople who are great at interviewing and some who are not. The younger person that does not have as much experience as the older person might bemore willing to adjust to the company and not be set in their ways.

Walter Brey 8 Jan 10 4:15 AM MSTBenjamin, we can make some overall general comments about groups of people. Younger workers are in fact younger and will stay in theorganization longer. That could be good or bad depending on the performance of the employee and the need for their skills. The older worker is infact older and will not be in the workforce as long as the younger person. And, you can be too young and inexperienced for certain level positions.Does it make sense to hire an older person in an entry level position that will likely not satisfy them for long. We need to get the right person in theright job at the right time.

Benjamin Machado 9 Jan 10 8:17 PM MSTI agree we need to have the right person in the right positions; however, I think that many times the companies hire the younger inexperiencedperson because they know that they can get away with paying less than what they would have to pay the older experienced person.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:38 AM MSTBenjamin, this is often the case. And, younger people are often easier to mold and shape, more willing to do what they are told, etc. Experiencedemployees are "ideas" and "better" ways of doing things. Many managers don't like to deal with that approach.

Bart Saunders 9 Jan 10 7:44 PM MSTI think that it is really hard to get past stereotypes no matter how hard we try. I wonder if in some cases a candidate is chosen based on the oppositestereotypical person that would have actually been chosen just to be politically correct even though they were underqualified.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:36 AM MSTBart, that probably does happen. But, that really is of no value to a person who is not qualified for the job. It doesn't help the organization or theindividual if they are not qualified. That sets up a failure scenario.

Felix Nuako 7 Jan 10 10:06 PM MSTBased on the question above I think the company should give the opportunity to the 53 year old person simply because of her expectives in terms ofexperience and also working at the workforce for a longer time which has exposed diversity to her experience,dealing with different people of allages.Further more she can bring her expective to the company which in turn leads to positive results.With her experience may be she has been in themanagement position before this company so it would be helpful to the company.On the other hand the 25 years old person has no experience to bringto the table rather the company has to spent a lot time for training purposes.

Walter Brey 8 Jan 10 4:19 AM MSTFelix, the question gets down to the type of work experience that this person had in the past. We need to know more about she actually did in the pastjob and how that skill relates to the current situation. The same can be said for both people. Do you think that the younger person would be satisfiedin a job that she really can't do because lack of experience or skills?

Nidia Jackson 8 Jan 10 8:41 PM MSTI agree Mr. Brey, the question is whether or not the older person has performed related skills in the past and whether or not she can fulfill potentialwork duties in the future. This, again, is a very hard one because although the younger person has the knowledge, skills, and some managementexperience, does not mean that she can make the necessary actions it takes to get the job done. Hard one.

Walter Brey 9 Jan 10 6:09 AM MSTNidia, in the interview process to only way to get some idea is through the type of questions that are asked. We can't start the process with a bias







































against someone just because of the stereotypes that we have in our heads. The point is to find out the skills and not let anything else get in theway.

Corinne Hoffmann 9 Jan 10 11:02 AM MSTMr. Brey, in my experiences I have found that while that is the ideal interview situation, it doesn't always happen that way, and not everyonewho interviews/hires people is able to set aside the stereotypes and biases. Everyone has stereotypes and biases whether they will admit it or notis another question. Some interviewers will even make up their minds in the first few minutes of the interview. This could be based on theinterviewee's appearance, how they greeted the interviewer or any number of stereotypes, biases, or preconcieved notions that the interveiwermay have about the interviewee. The interviewer at that point will basically just go through the motions and not even really listen to what theinterviewee has to say. You can even sometimes tell that they have just stopped listening by their body language, eye contact, or basicdemeanor. This is something that an interviewee needs to be aware of. When a applicant faces rejection, they need to know that it may not havehad anything at all to do with them, their skills, knowledge or experience. It sometimes is all about the interviewer and their stereotypes, biasesor preconceived notions.Date Modified: 9 Jan 10 11:08 AM MST

Benjamin Machado 9 Jan 10 8:27 PM MSTCorinne I agree with you. I think that once the person comes in for an interview that is when the interviewers make up their minds as soon asthey see the candidate for the job.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:32 AM MSTCorinne, that is very true and those are the problems that we need to overcome. The first impression is something that the candidate canmanage only to a certain extent. If the hiring manager or the recruiter are biased in some way, it is hard for the candidate to cut through thatmind set. You would think that by this time in history organizations have gotten past stereotypes and are able to focus on the skills or thecandidate. Stereotypes and bias is subtle and no one talks out loud about these things.

Corinne Hoffmann 10 Jan 10 6:06 PM MSTHopefully some day we can get there!Date Modified: 10 Jan 10 6:07 PM MST

Mark Chang 10 Jan 10 7:27 PM MSTFor that reason when Human Resource representatives interview candidates for a job they should also bring along a senior employee ormanager from the department hiring and interview them at the same sitting. Many companies already utilize this practice for determining thebest candidates. This process speeds up the process and enables both interviewers representing each departments to converse on their thoughtsof the potential employee immediately after the interview.

Felix Nuako 9 Jan 10 10:49 PM MSTTheir skills was not disclosed but I assume that the 53 years old person has been in the industry for a longer time than the 25 years old person,sowhatever the 53 years old person was doing before this opportunity came about at least she has experience compare to the 25 years old person.It istrue about both candidate but at least if both of them are working then I can assume that the older person has been in the workforce longer than theyounger person.I don't think the younger person wolud be happy if she cannot perform her duties or without training or lack of experince.

Walter Brey 10 Jan 10 8:34 AM MSTFelix, that is an interesting point. It possible that the 53 year and the 25 year old have the same time in the skill area. If they both have the samenumber of years of experience in that type of job, it really makes them more equal and age (as it is related to assumed years of experience) shouldnot be a consideration.

Felix Nuako 9 Jan 10 10:43 PM MSTIn view of the above statement both could be a good employee but I think the 25 year old person can bring fresh and new ideas to the table ans she isyoung the energy is there,she is even happy to have a job,unlike the 53 years old,she has been working for a longer time,maybe she is tied of workingand the zeal is not there,and ready to retire from workforce.Due to these itwould be a good idea to hire the younger person (25 years old person).

Jeanette Boleware 10 Jan 10 9:19 PM MSTThe number people age 50 and older has been predicted to increase by nearly 50% between 2000 and 2010. Older workers are susceptible to beingstereotyped as inflexible and undesirable in other ways. Small businesses tend to value older workers for their experience, stability, and low turnoverrates. According to research there are lower avoidable absences among older workers. Age is linked to experience or job tenure and there is a positiverelationship between seniority and performance.

Organizational Behavior, 10th Ed., Chapter 2, pg 53Date Modified: 10 Jan 10 9:22 PM MST








































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Individual Differences _Week 1_Discussion Topic