"Today's changing work environment is only making things more complicated, particularly when it comes to trying to satisfy and meet the expectations of employees across several generations. In 2016, Millennials became the largest generation in the labor force, and as of 2017, there were more than 56 million Millennials either working or looking for work. Following close behind are the nation's 53 million Gen Xers and 41 million Baby Boomers. All this makes for a crowded workplace where managers need to keep things running smoothly while also exploring new ways to make their employees feel fulfilled and ensure they have a clear vision of their future with the firm...Last but certainly not least, encouraging better communication is key. Employees across generations want feedback, but they differ in how they want to receive it. Millennials prefer to get feedback almost constantly (although only 15% are actively asking for it), while 60% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers want a less frequent approach and prefer annual or biannual, formalized performance reviews." (Bingham, 2018) (Extract from https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2018/08/28/managing-different-generations-workplace/)

Write a 5000-word investigative report on generation theory as it applies to the current workforce. Use the questions below to guide your research:

1. What are the general characteristics of the generations? 2. Do the different generations communicate in the same way? Investigate the common means of business communication across the generation. 3. Does Generation theory influence barriers to communication in a diverse workforce? 4. What does each generation group value the most?