Nationality differences in Gen Z work values: an exploratory study

IF 1.5 Q2 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Journal of International Education in Business Pub Date : 2022-04-26 DOI:10.1108/jieb-09-2021-0088

Peter de Boer, Prantik Bordoloi

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Purpose Generation Z (Gen Z) will account for a growing proportion of the global workforce in the coming years. Therefore, it is vitally important to understand this generation’s unique perspectives and preferences regarding work. This exploratory study aims to examine the prioritisation and desirability of Gen Z work values according to respondents’ nationality. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected through a survey among 1,188 undergraduate students enrolled in one university each in China, Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand. ANOVA test and Tukey post hoc analysis were used to find out the difference between the groups based on nationality. Findings Findings indicate that nationality serves as a key differentiator in work value preferences. The findings challenge the concept of a global Gen Z as only two of the measured values, learning and visible results, were found to have universal appeal across the nationality groups. In spite of increased levels of global interconnectedness and accompanying crossvergence of values, the results show significant statistical differences in work values based on the respondents’ nationality. Research limitations/implications Because of the scope and explorative design of the present study, it cannot be certain that the findings are exclusively from Gen Z characteristics or influenced by other, non-cultural, variables. Practical implications This study suggests there is a need for study programmes at a tertiary level to embed experiential learning components and individual study pathways in their curricula to enable students to develop realistic expectations about the workplace and their place in it. In turn, these programmes will be able to develop a competitive advantage in higher education landscape. Originality/value The insights gained can be leveraged by internationally oriented study programmes, such as International Business (IB), to better address Gen Z needs and expectations.

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Z世代工作价值观的国籍差异:探索性研究

未来几年，Z世代(Gen Z)在全球劳动力中所占的比例将越来越大。因此，了解这一代人对工作的独特看法和偏好是至关重要的。这项探索性研究旨在根据受访者的国籍来检查Z世代工作价值观的优先级和可取性。设计/方法/方法本研究的数据是通过对中国、德国、荷兰和泰国各一所大学的1188名本科生进行调查收集的。采用方差分析(ANOVA)和Tukey事后分析(post - hoc analysis)分析不同国籍的组间差异。研究结果表明，国籍是工作价值偏好的关键区别因素。研究结果挑战了“全球Z世代”的概念，因为研究发现，只有两种衡量价值——学习和看得见的成果——在各民族群体中具有普遍吸引力。尽管全球互联性水平的提高和随之而来的价值观的融合，但结果显示，基于受访者的国籍，工作价值观存在显著的统计差异。由于本研究的范围和探索性设计，不能确定研究结果完全来自Z世代的特征或受到其他非文化变量的影响。实际意义本研究表明，高等教育的学习项目有必要在课程中加入体验式学习和个人学习途径，使学生对工作场所和他们在其中的位置产生现实的期望。反过来，这些课程将能够在高等教育领域发展竞争优势。获得的见解可以通过国际商务(IB)等面向国际的学习项目加以利用，以更好地满足Z世代的需求和期望。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of International Education in Business EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

0.50

自引率

6.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： The journal of International Education in Business (JIEB) is a peer reviewed journal concerned with theoretical and pedagogic aspects of international education in business schools and its flow-on implications for the workplace. The journal publishes papers that are concerned with: - international education, - cross- and inter-cultural aspects of internationalisation, - internationalisation of business schools, - business school teaching and learning, - academic and social engagement of students, - recruitment and marketing of business education in international contexts, - quality processes with respect to internationalisation, and - global organisations as stakeholders of internationalisation. Theoretical and empirical papers (qualitative and quantitative) as well as case analyses are invited. Papers that explore micro- and macro-perspectives in business and international education are also included.