Application of Groupthink to Generation Y Decision Making Processes within a Professional Services Context in New Zealand

Many organisations are adjusting to the presence of Generation Y and their values. Industries that have large annual intakes of employees, like Professional Services, find this adjustment particularly challenging. Generation Y challenges workplace rules and norms, this article seeks to understand the decision making process used by Generation Y to form expectations and perceptions in relation to workplace rules and norms. Understanding this process will help organisations to better educate and influence Generation Y regarding their career choices and conduct within the workplace. This article will focus on applying the Groupthink theory to explain the decision making process used by Generation Y to form expectations and perceptions in relation to workplace rules and norms. In the conclusion an adjusted Groupthink Model that applies specifically to this context is presented. Lessons for organisations that may want to have greater influence over the decision making process used by Generation Y are also presented.