Abstract

Alumni are an underutilized resource for input on the oral presentation skills employees need at work and what should be taught in oral-presentation-focused business communication courses. Yet they are in a unique position to assess the utility of what they learned and recommend coursework changes. In survey responses, 1,610 business alumni who make oral presentations two or three times per month on average recommended more instruction on how to present business data visually, more impromptu presentations, more help dealing with difficult audiences and with nervousness, and three to five presentations assigned in oral presentation courses for business students.