Generation Z's expectations of adaptation to work/military service

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to identify, analyze, and diagnose Generation Z's expectations of adaptation to work/military service and their relationship to education, place of residence, and military service experience.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study used the method of literature analysis and criticism, the method of diagnostic survey and statistical methods. The quantitative-qualitative research was conducted in Poland based on a questionnaire survey, among 2234 people of generation Z, randomly selected. The research was conducted with sampling taking into account three criteria, education, place of residence, and experience in military service. Generation Z respondents were those born between 1990 and 1999 and consisted of two groups. The first in the number of 2084 were civilians (potential candidates for professional military service. The second group of respondents consisted of 150 soldiers (cadets), performing candidate military service at the military academy, who are first year students in the field of Command.

FINDINGS: Conducted empirical research showed that generation Z has numerous and diverse expectations towards adaptation to work/service in the military, such as, defining expectations on a given job position, activities to check the fulfillment of their expectations towards work/service, applicable procedures, appointment of a mentor who will provide all support at the stage of adaptation, applicable organizational culture, internal training (team and individual), regarding the organization, values important to the organization/Armed Forces, ways of work organization and work/service evaluation. The cadets had, in each of the cases, expectations of adaptation significantly higher than civilians. It was also found that the more experience people of generation Z have in candidate military service, the more information and activities they expect during adaptation to military work/service, such as, defining the expectations for a given position, ways of evaluating work/service, presentation of procedures and values important to the Armed Forces, the current organizational culture, activities to check the fulfillment of their expectations for service, internal training about the organization, and the appointment of a mentor who will provide them with all kinds of support during the adaptation. Education, place of residence, and experience in military service significantly differentiate the expectations of generation Z regarding adaptation to work/military service.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The practical implications focus on the potential for using the research findings to improve the job/military service adaptation of Generation Z individuals, thereby retaining them in business and military organizations.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper diagnoses Generation Z's expectations of adaptation to work/military service and their relationship to education, place of residence, and military service experience.