The Grand Communication Canyon Filling The Business Communication Skills Education Gap Robert T. Sumichrast: Kevin D. Carlson: Steve C. Matuszak: Dean, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Affairs Business Communication Education Coordinator Instructor, MGT Dept.
Welcome and Overview Dr. Robert T. Sumichrast Dean, Pamplin College of Business Virginia Tech https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/historyculture/navajobridge.htm
Framing the Problem I t is easy to say students can t communicate. The real challenge in improving communication skills is understanding what that means.
Framing the Problem S y s t e m a t i c a l l y i m p r o v i n g b u s i n e s s s t u d e n t s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s i s a c o m p l e x t a s k. Tw o r e a l i t i e s i n c r e a s e t h e c h a l l e n g e : C o m m u n i c a t i o n c o m p e t e n c e r e q u i r e s a b r o a d c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f c o m p o n e n t s k i l l s a p p l i e d i n d i v e r s e c o n t e x t s S t u d e n t s d e v e l o p m e n t n e e d s d i f f e r
Finding Solutions Not surprisingly, creating undiff erentiated education f or diff erent capable students r arely provides the necessary preparation. Therefore, we seek alternative solutions.
Communication Competence *Place pictures, graphs and images here C o m m u n i c a t i o n r e q u i r e s m a ny s k i l l s. W h a t d o e s i t ta ke t o g i v e a n e f f e c t i v e s p e e c h? W h a t d o e s i t ta ke t o w r i t e a n e f f e c t i v e p r o p o s a l?
A Complex Landscape T h e re a re m a ny a s p e c t s b eyond specific skills. C a t e g o r i e s : O r a l & W r i t t e n *Place pictures, graphs and images here W i t h i n O r a l : S p e a k i n g & L i s t e n i n g C o n t e x t s : A c a d e m i c, S o c i e t y, Wo r k p l a c e S e t t i n g s : P u b l i c S p e a k i n g, I n t e r p e r s o n a l, Te a m / G r o u p, P u r p o s e s : D i s s e m i n a t e, P e r s u a d e, E m p o w e r C o m p o n e n t s : K n o w l e d g e, S k i l l s, M o t i v a t i o n C h a n n e l s : N e u t r a l t o R i c h Te c h n o l o g y : M e d i a t e d v s. N o n - M e d i a t e d S t a k e s : L o w t o H i g h
Communication Apprehension An individual s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real *Place pictures, graphs and images here or anticipated communication with another person or persons. (McCroskey, 1977, p. 78) B e fo re, D u r i n g, a n d /o r A f t e r M a n i fe ste d i n T h re e D i m e n s i o n s : C o g n i t i v e ( T h i n k N e ga t i ve l y ) B e h a v i o r a l ( W i t h d ra w, S i l e n c e, I n e f fe c t i ve ) P hy s i o l o g i c a l ( A d ve rs e Ef fe c t s ) https://www.citelighter.com/communications/communications/knowledgecards/communication-apprehension-as-trait
Communication Apprehension I m p e d e s : C o m m u n i c a t i o n skills ex p r e s s i o n *Place pictures, graphs and images here C o m m u n i c a t i o n skills d ev e l o p m e nt D o m a i n s Within-individual d i f fe re n c e s D i f fe re n c e s b e t w e e n i n d i v s D i f fe re n c e s w i t h i n s e tt i n g s O n t o p o f a l l t h e o t h e r c o m p l ex i t y 1 ) C o n s t e l l a t i o n o f S k i l l s 2 ) Va r i a b i l i t y o f S t u d e n t s S k i l l s 3 ) C o m m u n i ca t i o n A p p r e h e n s i o n
Identifying & Prioritizing Skills Table Discussions *Place pictures, graphs and images here Consider: Categories Settings Components Stakes OCA http://www.starrkingschool.net/round-table-discussion/
Assessing Communication Skills We l i ke l y a re g o i n g t o h ave t o a s s e s s d i m e n s i o n s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n that we h ave n o t a s s e s s e d b e fo re. *Place pictures, graphs and images here H o w h ave w e d o n e i t t ra d i t i o n a l l y? B e st p ra c t i c e d ra w n f rom other fields C o m m u n i c a t i o n F i e l d ( O C C & OCA)
Developing Communication Skills W h a t w e e x p e c t : F o c u s a t t h e i n t e r e s e c t i o n o f : *Place pictures, graphs and images here 1 ) W h a t i s m o s t i m p o r t a n t? 2 ) W h a t i s m o s t d e f i c i e n t? B a l a n c e s y s t e m a t i c v s. d i f fe r e n t i a t e d S o l u t i o n s w i l l l i ke l y i n c l u d e c u r r i c u l a r, c o - c u r r i c u l a r, e x t r a - c u r r i c u l a r c o m p o n e n t s b u i l t a c r o s s t h e c u r r i c u l u m S y s t e m a t i c i n s t r u c t o r d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l b e r e q u i r e d. https://www.google.com/search?q=google+images&tbm=isch&gws_rd=ssl#tbm=isch&q=skill+development&imgrc=62r1ddav2wjw2m :
Next Steps?
The Grand Communication Canyon Filling The Business Communication Skills Education Gap Robert T. Sumichrast: Kevin D. Carlson: Steve C. Matuszak: Dean, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Affairs Business Communication Education Coordinator Instructor, MGT Dept.