Employers’ Perspectives on Workplace Communication Skills: The Meaning of Communication Skills

Tina A. Coffelt Iowa State University ; Dale Grauman Iowa State University ; Frances L. M. Smith Murray State University

Abstract

Employers provide their interpretation of the meaning of communication skills in this qualitative study of 22 managers. Employers understand written communication to be types of documents, a way to write, and a mode of communication. Oral communication skills mean a style of interacting, presenting, and conducting meetings. Visual communication skills were understood to be data visualization or nonverbal communication. Electronic communication was interpreted as email. The findings contribute to closing-the-gap research by highlighting areas where meaning converges for employers and instructors. Faculty members in communication disciplines can incorporate these findings into their course design and learning outcome discussions.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2019-12-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490619851119
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Cited by in this index (14)

  1. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
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