We are “not” too (young/old) to collaborate : Prominent Key Barriers to Intergenerational Innovation

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed the barriers to technology-supported intergenerational innovation to understand better how young and old can collaborate towards global innovations. Researchers in different disciplines have already identified various barriers to intergenerational collaboration. However, barriers are changing depending on the context of collaboration, and difficulties still exist to support intergenerational innovation in global settings. Therefore, we investigated the barriers that emerge when people work with someone decades older or younger. The results of our study have shown what barriers are influenced by age, what barriers exist only for senior and younger adults. The study theoretically contributes to deepening the Information Systems (IS) community's understanding of the barriers to intergenerational innovation that need to be considered when developing systems for global innovation.