Employers' Perspectives on Workplace Communication Skills: The Meaning of Communication Skills. Issue 4 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coffelt, Tina A.; Grauman, Dale; Smith, Frances L. M.
• Is Part Of: Business and professional communication quarterly. Volume 82:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 418
• Page End: 439
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: communication skills -- closing-the-gap studies -- genre theory; Business education -- United States -- Periodicals; Communication in management -- United States -- Periodicals; English language -- Business English -- Periodicals; 658.450715
• DOI: 10.1177/2329490619851119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2329-4906

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.