Confused highlights an interesting book called Global Remix by Professor Richard Scase.  It aligns with the social network concept as firms adopt it.  He highlights a few paragraphs and click over there to read.

Many parents have teenage and younger children who spend quite a lot of time in their bedrooms. They respond to parental commands through text messaging, e-mails and, occasionally, grunts. Parents with children of this kind should be congratulated for bringing up normal, well-adjusted youngsters. But they fear for their children’s futures. Will they ever be employable?

…..

But, more than that, they will have to tolerate non-conformity and individuality in terms of attitudes, behaviour, dress codes and lifestyles. Small businesses are more likely to allow for these personal differences than large companies. That’s why the iPod generation is more attracted to working in small firms; they are given more space and personal autonomy.

Source: Confused Of Calcutta » Blog Archive » &great talent but not as we know it&

One example I can think of in our space is the call centre employee.  Today its all about phone with some email in pockets.  Fast forward, and its to be expected that the predominant skill set(s) in the call centre, will be such things as:

• following tags, blogs and sites which reference the firm or their business
  • internal (intranet) and
  • external (internet)
• commenting on blogs and social sites to represent the company in an open and honest way
  • each employee empowered to speak as if they were the CEO representing the firms products and services
  • authority to address and resolve issues
• varied skill sets:
  • chat
  • email
  • blog commenting
  • social network participation
  • reading and collating information

The nature of these skill sets are new, and certainly not taught anywhere.  Generation M are leaning those skill sets as part of their life – this is the message in the book.  Seems like it might be worth the read.