| Knowledge transfer is increasingly becoming an important asset to the nonprofit organization as a way to maintain its stability of a professional and unified personnel that works well together, follows proper policy and procedures, and provides the services needed for its clients. Without employees willing to share their knowledge, nonprofit organizations may fail to make the best of its intellectual capital resulting in the loss of vital organizational knowledge. The current study focused on the nonprofit organization workforce that currently spans across three generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. The purpose of the study was to research the specific interactions among the three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y) and the importance of knowledge transfer (safeguarding) among those generations as they try to reach collective goals in a nonprofit organization. The study investigated the omnibus research question: What are the differences in safeguarding within the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y in a nonprofit organization? The omnibus question and hypothesis was followed by four subquestions and hypotheses addressing the knowledge safeguarding category of knowledge transfer. Using a QuestionPro (2017) panel sample of 199, the three generations indicated the importance of the four knowledge transfer categories using a 4-point Likert scale on the Multigenerational Transfer Indicator survey via the Internet. For this study, a quantitative research method was employed using the general linear model design, one-way MANOVA followed by a one-way ANOVA. Using the one-way MANOVA, research determined there was no statistical significance differences within knowledge safeguarding (interpersonal communication), knowledge safeguarding (mutual advice), knowledge safeguarding (diverse KT mechanism), and knowledge safeguarding (providing advice & feedback) and the three generations. Then, using the one-way ANOVA, research found there was no statistical significance differences within knowledge safeguarding (interpersonal communication), knowledge safeguarding (mutual advice), knowledge safeguarding (diverse MT mechanism), and knowledge safeguarding (providing advice & feedback) within the three generations. Since the ANOVA tests resulted in no significant differences with the four dependent variables, the Post hoc Test Tukey was not needed. With an increased sample and a mixed method design, future research could validate the generational cohort's relationship on knowledge transfer as it relates to practical applicability for nonprofit organizations. |
