An Exploration of Baby Boomer Mass Retirement Effects on Information Systems Organizations

An Exploration of Baby Boomer Mass Retirement Effects on Information Systems Organizations by Nithyanandam Mathiyazhagan MS, Capella University, 1998 ME, Bharathidasan University, 1985 BE, Madras University, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University November 2016 Abstract The potential knowledge loss from Baby Boomer generation employee retirements can negatively affect information systems organizations. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to explore the lived experiences of the leaders and managers of information systems organizations as they tried to maintain operational continuity after Baby Boomer worker retirements. The impact of this issue was the operational continuity after the Baby Boomer worker retirement. The social impact of this issue was the knowledge loss events that might result in business loss or even bankruptcy. McElroy’s knowledge life cycle model was the conceptual framework for this study that included knowledge production and knowledge integration processes within a feedback loop. The lived experiences of 20 knowledgeable participants who had experienced institutional knowledge loss from retired Baby Boomer generation employees were captured through purposeful sampling. Data were collected through individual interviews using either faceto-face or a web conferencing tool such as Skype and analyzed through a modified Van Kaam. Five themes were identified: business climate, delivery practices, work processes, camaraderie, and management response. Significant attributes that added to the body of knowledge were workplace navigation, alternate focus, and outsourcing management. The results of the study may enable organizations to be better able to understand and manage the Baby Boomer knowledge loss effects and subsequently create systems to help maintain their competitive edge and avoid knowledge loss that might result in business loss or even bankruptcy.The potential knowledge loss from Baby Boomer generation employee retirements can negatively affect information systems organizations. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to explore the lived experiences of the leaders and managers of information systems organizations as they tried to maintain operational continuity after Baby Boomer worker retirements. The impact of this issue was the operational continuity after the Baby Boomer worker retirement. The social impact of this issue was the knowledge loss events that might result in business loss or even bankruptcy. McElroy’s knowledge life cycle model was the conceptual framework for this study that included knowledge production and knowledge integration processes within a feedback loop. The lived experiences of 20 knowledgeable participants who had experienced institutional knowledge loss from retired Baby Boomer generation employees were captured through purposeful sampling. Data were collected through individual interviews using either faceto-face or a web conferencing tool such as Skype and analyzed through a modified Van Kaam. Five themes were identified: business climate, delivery practices, work processes, camaraderie, and management response. Significant attributes that added to the body of knowledge were workplace navigation, alternate focus, and outsourcing management. The results of the study may enable organizations to be better able to understand and manage the Baby Boomer knowledge loss effects and subsequently create systems to help maintain their competitive edge and avoid knowledge loss that might result in business loss or even bankruptcy. An Exploration of Baby Boomer Mass Retirement Effects on Information Systems Organizations by Nithyanandam Mathiyazhagan MS, Capella University, 1998 ME, Bharathidasan University, 1985 BE, Madras University, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University November 2016 Dedication To my family, friends, scholars and practitioners who inspired this research and provided encouragement and support. Acknowledgments I have been privileged to receive inspiration and help from numerous extraordinary people. I thank my “Sir,” Dr. S. N. Sivanandam, who provided philosophical direction to develop my thoughts and orient my efforts to this dissertation study. I thank my faculty mentor, Dr. Howard Schechter, and committee members, Dr. David Gould and university URR, Dr. Patricia Fusch, who provided timely feedback and assisted with the completion of this dissertation. In addition, I am very thankful to the university staff and the participants in the study who supported this work. My heartfelt appreciation goes to Dr. Suki Stone for inspiration and help with the compilation of this dissertation and Laurel Bennis who tirelessly reviewed the numerous versions of this manuscript and provided valuable comments and suggestions.