A Generational and Sex-Based View of Managerial Work Values

In a study of 252 managers' work values for those born during the US baby-boom of 1946–64 and those born before the baby-boom were compared; sex differences also were examined. The most important work value in both groups is accomplishment, but significant differences between groups suggest that baby-boom managers—regardless of sex—base their belief systems more on humanistic/moralistic values than do prebaby-boom managers whose values are more traditionally pragmatic.