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Introduction

Communication is the most common skill of any individual and it is considered as the basic component of the managers to achieve their organizational goals. In the current technology-driven economy, management students have great opportunities to acquire
knowledge, express their talents, and prove their competencies also. However, they fail to invest in soft skill training activities and hesitate to develop required inputs to match the corporate demands.

Effective communication is the key to managerial success. It is highly essential for the management graduates to speak and write effectively for securing a prosperous job and for maintaining their career. But generally at entry levels, they differ in their level of perception, knowledge, and may experience communication as a complex behavior.

This paradox is especially prominent in multi-cultural business situations. It has a great impact during business meetings, negotiations and other formal conversations. As a result, they indulge in interpersonal conflicts with their counterparts and widen the gap in professional relationships. So students need to understand the need of the hour, realize the impact of poor communication, and create a mind set to transform their styles and strategies to the present working climate.

In the recent study made by Betsy Stevens, an Associate Professor of Love School of Business, Elon University, it can be understood that Employers of Silicon Valley were less satisfied with the oral and written communication skills of the management graduates. Especially, there is a need for them to improve the use of vocabulary, adequate writing skills and self-expression. Other researchers (Hynes & Bhatia, Krizan, Merrier & Jones) also cite that upcoming managers require adequate speaking and writing skills to manage the multi-faceted changing business environments. Communication is a powerful tool that can be used effectively in all the managerial operations, and ultimately only the managers with an ability to communicate effectively are recognized or rewarded in today's competitive business scenario (Fisher, Murphy & Hildebrandt, Gustafson, Johnson & Hovey). A survey conducted by Griffith University in Queensland (Employer Expectations of Graduates) reveals that oral and written skills are one of the essential attributes which the employers sought in graduate employees.

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* Contributed by: -
Dr. R. Krishnaveni & Ms. Thamaraiselvi Rajmohan,
PSG Institute of Management,
Coimbatore.