New Generational Insight for Local Gov
October 19, 2020 by Meredith Trimble
Right now, more than six living generations exist. Four of those are actively engaged in local government as community members, homeowners, taxpayers, and voters. These distinct generations have very different experiences, expectations, and approaches to government. This creates a wonderful diversity, but it also creates a challenge: How can governments adequately serve and engage these four different generations?
To gain greater insight about commonalities and differences across generations and to answer this question, Tyler Technologies, Inc. partnered with The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK) on a new national study.
As governments continue to accelerate advancements in the wake of COVID-19’s disruption, now is the perfect time to understand and apply this critical generational context.
Following are top insights for local governments from the research.
1. Reaching All Generations
Reaching diverse constituents from Gen Z to Baby Boomers is perhaps the surest example of the folly of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The research shows a clear generational breakdown in how the different groups find or receive government information.
- Websites, social media, and word of mouth top the favorite information channels.
- Nearly two-thirds of Boomers and Gen X find or receive information about government services via website.
- More than half of Millennials and Gen Z, on the other hand, prefer to find local government information via social media.
- Millennials and Gen Z receive information from local government much more frequently than Gen X, and significantly more so than Boomers, because of their higher usage of real-time digital communication channels.
To capture Gen Z, local governments must catch up with real-time digital channels that also increase the frequency of constituents’ engagement with government information. In an era of public health crises, mobile apps are essential to any modern emergency communications plan. With push notifications, local governments can quickly disseminate emergency news directly to citizens, targeted by location, when immediate action is necessary. Websites, however, cannot be ignored, as they still function as the top information channel for groups in the study. Particularly for Gen X and Boomers, governments need to make sure that websites are mobile friendly, easy to navigate, and provide both information and useful interaction.
2. Serving All Generations
More frequent, real-time communication via digital channels. This is also an example of better service.
- Baby Boomers had significantly higher usage of services associated with home ownership.
- In answer to the question, “What are the most important services local government provides?” Gen X overwhelmingly chose economic and community development as the most important, while Gen Z singled out continuing education.
- The preferred service channel to get questions answered or resolve issues is email, across three generations, excluding the Boomers’ unique desire to pick up the phone and talk with someone.
- Every generation, by a very large margin, wants to see online interactions improved through clear, easy-to-use technology. There is also agreement among generations on the need for better connectivity between government departments and enhanced data security.
The generational alignment in how local government can improve constituent interaction online and in-person provides unique opportunity for governments to adapt and provide better service with a broad-brush stroke. The data shows that improvement needs to come first in the form of clear, easy-to-use technology and better communication. Digital service delivery and directly connecting citizens to services will better meet constituents’ needs overall.
Technology that connects the core functions of local government to each other and with the public can facilitate advanced business management and bolster community development. Having a quick and reliable e-commerce solution to support bill payments, form submissions and other traditionally in-office transactions ensures that residents can “do business” with government from anywhere.
3. Engaging All Generations
Government’s ability to partner with community members to innovate, create, and carry out solutions hangs on the practice of engagement. Every generation in the study felt there was an opportunity for deeper engagement with local government.
- Using parks and recreational facilities, voting in local elections, and becoming more informed are the top ways every generation wants to engage with local government.
- Eighty-five percent of respondents think government can do a better job engaging citizens, but respondents also think that citizens need to become more involved themselves.
- The very last way every generation wants to engage with local government is to run for election to local office, with only 6% of the entire sample indicating a desire to do so.
- In the past year, 56% of Baby Boomers reported voting in a local election, compared with only 26% of Gen Z, and less than half of Millennials.
- Baby Boomers define engagement as going to vote; the other generations define engagement as everything but voting.
Overall, the local government process simply feels too frustrating. Fees and expenses, lack of communication or transparency, long waits, and difficulty finding information are also real barriers to engagement. While Boomers may not feel these frustrations as strongly, the other generations want to engage with government in the same way that they engage with everyone else – through easy, intuitive technology.
The through line of technology is what will drive more engagement in ways that are comfortable, easy, and effective for each generation, particularly in the two facets to engagement: transparency and participation.
Open data solutions facilitate transparency and open the door to meaningful engagement through data analytics. Public-facing engagement tools allow citizens to make payments, report issues, respond to surveys, and more, in a customizable mobile experience.
Governments can maximize service delivery, enhance public participation, and foster partnerships necessary for tomorrow’s solutions only by reaching, serving, and engaging citizens in ways that work across generations. Bridging the gap between expectations and reality across generations with modern technology improves service and contributes to more vibrant, successful communities.
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