Sean Lyons | Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

Sean Lyons

Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, Professor, Leadership & Management
Dean's Office
Email: 
slyons01@uoguelph.ca
Phone number: 
ext. 58500
Fax: 
519-824-3087
Office: 
Macdonald Hall (MAC), Room 222
Summary: 

Dr. Lyons’s main area of research concerns inter-generational differences and their impacts on workplace dynamics and managing people.  His research on generational differences in work values and attitudes has been featured in a number of media outlets, including Time Magazine, the Globe & Mail, the National Post, Macleans magazine, as well as on CBC’s The National, CTV News Channel, the Business News Network and CBC Radio’s The Current.  Dr. Lyons works frequently with private and public sector organizations to identify and address inter-generational issues.  

Find Related People by Keyword

Faculty & Staff, leadership faculty, MA Leadership faculty

Accepting Master's and PhD Students with research interests in: 

  1. Contemporary/Protean careers
  2. Generational identity
  3. Career exploration and job search in emerging adulthood
  4. Career development topics
  5. Work values - measurement and application
  • PhD Management, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University (2004)
  • MA, Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University (1998)
  • BPA, University of Windsor (1995)

GOOGLE SCHOLAR
ORCID iD: orcid.org/0000-0001-5954-0077
ResearcherID: I-2453-2014 
Scopus Author ID: 25221935000



Refereed Journal Articles: 

  • Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S., & Smith, C. J. (2023). Career Sustainability: Framing the Past to Adapt in the Present for a Sustainable Future. Sustainability, 15(15), 11800.
  • Leblanc, J. E. & Lyons, S. (2022). Helicopter parenting during emerging adulthood: Consequences for career identity and adaptability (Brandilynn Villarreal, Ed.). Frontiers in Psychology, 13(886979), 1-18. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.886979.
  • Ayoobzadeh, M, Schweitzer, L & Lyons, S. (2021). Career Expectations of International and Domestic Students in Canada. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance.
  • Charbonneau, B D, Powell, D M, Spence, J R & Lyons, S T. (2021). Unintended Consequences of Interview Faking: Impact on Perceived Fit and Affective Outcomes. Personnel Assessment and Decisions, 7(1), Article 6. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/pad/vol7/iss1/6.
  • Goetz, M L, Jones-Bitton, A, Hewson, J, Khosa, D, Lyons, S & Dorothy J Bakker, Peter D Conlon. (2020). An Examination of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality, Gender, and Career Interests of Ontario Veterinary College Students. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 47(4), 430-444. https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0418-044r.
  • Lyons, S. T., Schweitzer, L., Urick, M. J., & Kuron, L. (2019). A dynamic social-ecological model of generational identity in the workplace. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 17(1), 1-24.
  • Bakker, D., Lyons, S., & Conlon, P. (2017).  An Exploration of the Relationship between Psychological Capital and Depression in First-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Students.   Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 44 (1), 50-62, doi: 10.3138/jvme.0116-006R
  • Papavasileiou, E., Lyons, S., Shaw, G., & Georgiou, A. (2017). Work values in tourism: Past, present and future. Annals of Tourism Research, 64, 150-162.
  • Lyons, S. T. & Schweitzer, L. (2016). A Qualitative Exploration of Generational Identity: Making Sense of Young and Old in the Context of Today's Workplace. Work, Aging and Retirement., doi: 10.1093/workar/waw024.
  • Kuron, L., Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S., & Ng, E. S.W. (2016).  Career Profiles in the 'New Career:' Evidence of their Prevalence and Correlates.   Career Development International, 21 (4)., doi: dx.doi.org/10.1108/CDI-05-2015-0066.
  • Urick, M., Hollensbe, E., Masterson, S., & Lyons, S. (2016). Understanding and Managing Intergenerational Conflicts: An Examination of Influences and Strategies. Work, Aging and Retirement., doi: 10.1093/workar/waw009.
  • Lyons, S., Urick, M., Kuron, L., & Schweitzer, L. (2015). Generational Differences in the Workplace: There is Complexity beyond the Stereotypes. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: perspectives on science and practice, 8 (3), 346-356, doi:10.1017/iop.2015.48. 
  • Papavasileiou, E. F. & Lyons, S. (2015). A comparative analysis of the work values of Greece's 'Millennial' generation. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26 (17), 2166-2186, doi: 10.1080/09585192.2014.985325. 
  • Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L., & Ng, E. S. (2015). Resilience in the modern career. Career Development International, 20 (4), 363-383, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/CDI-02-2015-0024. 
  • Kuron, L., Lyons, S. T., Schweitzer, L., & Ng, E. S.W. (2015). Millennials' Work Values: Differences Across the School to Work Transition. Personnel Review, 44 (6), 991-1009, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/PR-01-2014-0024.
  • Lyons, S. T., Schweitzer, L., & Ng, E. S. (2015). How have careers changed? An investigation of changing career patterns across four generations. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(1). 
  • Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S. T., Kuron, L., & Ng, E. S.W. (2014).  The Gender Gap in Pre-Career Salary Expectations: A Test of Five Explanations.   Career Development International, 19 (4), TBD. 
  • Lyons, S., Ng, E. S., & Schweitzer, L. (2014).  Changing Demographics and the Shifting Nature of Careers: Implications for Research and Human Resource Development.   Human Resource Development Review, 13 (2),180-205.
  • Lyons, S. & Kuron, L. (2014).  Generational differences in the workplace: A review of the evidence and directions for future research.   Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35 (S1), S139-S157. 
  • Ng, E. S., Schweitzer, L., & Lyons, S. (2012).  Anticipated Discrimination and a Career Choice in Nonprofit A Study of Early Career Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) Job Seekers.  Review of Public Personnel Administration, 32 (4), 332-352.   
  • Lyons, S. T., Schweitzer, L., Ng, E.S., & Kuron, L.K.J. (2012) Comparing apples to apples: A qualitative investigation of career mobility patterns across four generations. Career Development International, Vol. 17 (4), 333 - 357.
  • Schweitzer, L., Ng., E.S.W, Lyons, S., & Kuron, L. (2011). Exploring the career pipeline: Generational differences in pre-career expectations. Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, 66, 422-444.
  • Lyons, S., Higgins. C., & Duxbury L. (2010). Work values: Development of a new 3-dimensional structure based on confirmatory smallest space analysis. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 969–1002.
  • Duxbury, L., Higgins, C., & Lyons, S. (2010). Coping with Overload and Stress: A Comparison of professional men and women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(4), 847-859.
  • Ng, E. S. W., Schweitzer, L., & Lyons, S. (2010). New generation, great expectations: A field study of the millennial generation. Journal of Business and Psychology, 28(2) 281-292. DOI: 10.1007/s10869-010-9159-4 DOI:10.1002/job.658
  • Schweitzer, L. & Lyons, S. T. (2008). The market within: A marketing approach to creating and developing high-value employment relationships. Business Horizons, 51, 555-565.
  • Duxbury, L., Lyons, S., & Higgins, C. (2007). Dual-income families in the new millennium: Re-conceptualizing family type. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 9(4), 472-486.
  • Lyons, S., Duxbury, L, & Higgins, C. (2007). An empirical assessment of generational differences in basic human values. Psychological Reports, 101, 339-352.
  • Lyons, S. T., Duxbury, L. E., & Higgins, C. A. (2006). A comparison of the values and commitment of private-sector, public-sector, and para-public-sector employees. Public Administration Review, 66 (4), 605-618.
  • Lyons, S. T., Duxbury, L. E., & Higgins, C. A. (2005). Are gender differences in basic human values a generational phenomenon? Sex Roles, 53, 763-778.
  • Authored Book
  • Ng, E. S., Lyons, S. T., & Schweitzer, L. (2018). Generational Career Shifts: How Matures, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials View Work. Emerald Publishing Limited.

Edited Book

  • Ng, E.S., Lyons, S. T., & Schweitzer, L. (Eds.) (2012). Managing the new workforce: International perspectives on the millennial generation, Edward Elgar Publishing, Northampton, MA.

Edited Book Chapters

  •  Lyons, S., Ng, E. S., & Schweitzer, L. (2014). Launching a Career: Inter-generational differences in the early career stage based on retrospective accounts. pp. 148-163. In Emma Parry (Ed.), Parry E. (Ed) Generational
    Diversity at Work: New Research Perspectives. London: Routeledge.  
  • Lyons, S. T., Ng, E. S. W., & Schweitzer, L. (2012). Generational career shift: Millennials and the changing nature of careers in Canada, in Ng, E. S. W., Lyons, S. T., & Schweitzer, L. Managing the new workforce: International perspectives on the millennial generation. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.
  • Duxbury, L., Lyons, S., & Higgins. C. (2008). Too much to do and not enough time: An examination of role overload. In Korabik, K., Lero, D. S., & Whitehead, D. L. (eds.). Handbook of Work-Family Integration: Research, theory and best Practices (pp. 125-140). New York: Academic Press.

Refereed Conference Proceedings  

  • LeBlanc, J., & Lyons, S. T. (2015). Helicopter Parents and Indecisive Kids: The Impact of Parental Attachment on Millennials' Careers. In Academy of Management Proceedings(Vol. 2015, No. 1, p. 15618). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
  • Kuron, L., Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L, & Ng, E. S. W. (2012). Work values of the millennial generation: a comparison of pre-career and working millennials. Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Annual Meeting. June 9-15, St. John’s Newfoundland
  • Ng, E.S., Schweitzer, & Lyons, S. T (2012). Public and Nonprofit Sectors as Safe Havens: A Comparison of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT), and Heterosexual Job Seekers, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) Conference Proceedings, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Lyons, S., Ng, E. S. W., Schweitzer, L., & Kuron, L. (2011). Intergenerational Differences in Work Values, Career Anchors and Organizational Mobility. Proceedings 13th International Society for the Study of Organizational and Work Values (ISSWOV) Conference, June 24-27, Goa, India.
  • Schweitzer, L. Lyons, S. T., & Ng, E.S. (2010). Managing in the new millennium: Gen Y and workplace expectations. Proceedings 12th International Society for the Study of Organizational and Work Values (ISSWOV) Conference, June 27-30, Lisbon
  • Schweitzer, L., Ng, E., Lyons, S., & Kuron, L. K. J. (2010) Educational and career expectations: A pattern of gender differences. Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Conference, Regina, SK, May 22-25. Gender and Diversity in Organization Best Paper Award Winner 2010.
  • Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L, & Ng, E. (2009). The shifting nature of careers in Canada: A framework for research. Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Conference, Niagara Falls, June 6-9.
  • Gender and Diversity in Organization Best Paper Award Winner 2009
  • Lyons, S. T., & Schweitzer, L. (2008). The structure of work values: A replication with two measures. Proceedings of the 2008 International Society for the Study of Organizational and Work Values (ISSWOV) Conference, June 24-27, 2008, Singapore, pp. 129-136.
  • Lyons, S. T., Dyke, L. & Khilji, S. (2008). A smallest space analysis of the value structure of career anchors. Proceedings of the 2008 International Society for the Study of Organizational and Work Values (ISSWOV) Conference, June 24-27, 2008, Singapore, pp. 73-80.
  • Lyons, S. T., Duxbury, L. E., & Higgins, C. A. (2006). A re-examination of relationship between general values and work values. Proceedings of the 2006 International Society for the Study of Organizational and Work Values (ISSWOV) Conference, June 25-29, 2006, Tallinn, Estonia, pp. 87-98.
  • Lyons, S. T., Duxbury, L. E., & Higgins, C. A. (2005). An empirical assessment of generational differences in work-related values. Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Conference, May 27-31, Toronto, Ontario pp. 62-71.
International 
  • Lyons, S. & Kuron, L. (2014). Generations in the Workplace: Taking Stock and Moving Forward.   Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Annual Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii. 
  • Lyons, S., Ng, E. S., & Schweitzer, L. (2014). Launching a Career: Inter-Generational Differences in the Early Career Stage.   Academy of Management Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
  • Ng, E. S., Lyons, S., & Schweitzer, L. (2012). Managing the New Workforce: International Perspectives on the Millennial Generation.   Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts. 
 
National
  • Kuron, L., Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S. T., & Ng, E. S. (2014). Careers Profiled: Investigating Differences in Career Behaviours andExperiences.   2009 Annual Conference of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, Huntsville, Canada-Ontario. 
    Winner of the 2014 HR Dvision Best Paper Award
  • Kuron, L., Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S., & Ng, E. S. (2013). Writing their own stories? A qualitative investigation of millennials' careers.   Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Annual Conference, Calgary, Canada-Alberta. 
  • Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L., & Ng, E. S. (2013). Launching a career: A qualitative study of inter-generational differences in the early career stage.  Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Annual Conference, Calgary, Canada-Alberta. 
    Winner of Human Resource Division Best Paper Award
  • Kuron, L., Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L., & Ng, E. S. (2012). Work values of the millennial generation: a comparison of pre-career and working millennials.   Administrative Science Association of Canada Annual Meetings, St. John's, Canada-Newfoundland. 
  • Ng, E. S., Schweitzer, L., & Lyons, S. (2012). Public and Nonprofit Sectors as Safe Havens: A Comparison of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT), and Heterosexual Job Seekers.   Administrative Science Association of Canada Annual Meetings, St. Johns, Canada-Newfoundland.

2016 SSHRC GRANT - Grant to study the career launch process in today's generation of emerging adults.

2008 SSHRC GRANT - Grant to study how different generational cohorts progress through their careers, what their expectations are and how these experiences and expectations vary by cultural background, gender and region ($158,400).

Area of Research

organizational management