X vs. Y

We do a lot of thinking around here about the predicted upcoming leadership crisis in nonprofit management. This crisis has been defined by researchers who see an alarming convergence between a rising number of retiring baby-boomer managers, dramatically increasing numbers of nonprofit organizations, and declining or steady numbers of new, young potential managers entering the field. This white paper by Thomas J. Tierney of the Bridgespan Group is one of the most influential statements on the subject. While the demographic shifts are undeniable, skeptics point to mitigating factors, and say that the talk of a "crisis" is overblown. CompassPoint's Jeanne Bell has been one of the prominent voices on that side of the argument.

This article, off the Harvard Business website, suggests another dimension to the leadership crisis--though it's really about generational changes in the workforce and the preference baby boomers have for generation Y over generation X. Not exactly hard science, but an interesting perspective.