Cognitive shifts in workplace learning and Gen Z: challenges and opportunities

Purpose India’s Gen Z workforce can tremendously contribute to organizations. Hence, their optimal learning would contribute to the competitive advantage of organizations. The paper is a viewpoint with an aim to uncover the workplace traits, learning preferences and cognitive shifts in Indian Gen Z. It provides a holistic insight into possibilities of developing sustained learning opportunities to engage Gen Z in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach A focus group discussion was conducted with Chief Human Resource Officers with prior work experience of working with Gen Z employees. Analysis was conducted using NVivo14 for coding, grouping and presenting the data. Findings While Gen Z is a digital generation, they desire personal connection in learning endeavors. Major cognitive shifts that shaped their learning preferences were continuity in learning, tech-based learning, and mentoring. Distraction conflict theory was utilized to generate a narrative about the challenges of Indian Gen Z workplace learning. A practical roadmap to optimize learning from an organizational, managerial, learning and development (L&D) and finally the Gen Z perspective has been provided. Practical implications The viewpoint provides implications for practitioners to use artificial intelligence in personalizing learning for Gen Z, provision of continual learning opportunities and mentoring to engage Gen Z among others. Originality/value The viewpoint underscores the importance of cognitive shifts that reflect in Gen Z learning preferences as well as provides a comprehensive pathway for research to develop novel strategies to optimize learning for Indian Gen Z.