We asked each student enrolled in a graduate-level management communica
tion course to describe in wrzting a work-related communication episode that
had challenged him or her. Students reported most difficulties in face-to-face
oral events, particularly when required to interact with someone in a different
organization or with someone who ranked higher in the organization.
Students also identified communication-related needs (for example, improved
self-confidence and persuasiveness). Our results indicate that graduate
management communication courses should include oral communication and
should not conceptualize oral communication exclusively in terms
of formal presentations.
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