Business

There are many reasons businesses choose technology - efficiency, effectiveness, adaptability to markets...  I read an interesting article recently that adds another reason.  "New-Generation Workers" summarizes a survey by Accenture on what the Millennial generation (those aged 14-27) looks for in potential employers.  The survey found that these employees expect to choose their technology and to use it for business and personal purposes.

The survey, which queried more than 400 U.S. Millennials found an increasing demand for high-tech devices to connect with colleagues, peers, friends and family, rather than face-to-face contact.  The findings point to a disconnect between the technology that organizations provide their workers and how young workers actually want to use technology and collaborate in the workplace.

This survey provides many challenges to businesses that want to be attractive to top Millenial talent.  Businesses will need to provide more opportunities for employees to choose their own technologies.  They need to become more open to alternative technology communication forms (e.g., blogging, twitter, social networking, instant messaging...).  Finally, they need to be willing to move away from business e-mailing as we know it (the new generation will often use quicker communication tools instead of e-mail).

I have seen several of my Indiana technology and software licensing clients stay ahead of this curve.  Even my firm, Alerding Castor, provides much flexibility with key employees in their choice of technologies. 

How does your business approach technology?