Communication in a Changing World: Contemporary Perspectives on Business Communication Competence

Communication in and around business organizations has changed due to new technologies, the demand for intercultural communication skills, the changing person–organization relationship, and the global nature of organizing. As a result, new communication competencies may be required. The author's objective was to identify specific communication competencies important in the contemporary business and professional environment. Toward that objective, articles referring to communication from best-selling popular press and practitioner-oriented business periodicals were used as artifacts for a content analysis. Six inductively derived competencies represent a mix of traditional and contemporary communication skills. The influence of collaborative communication and global interconnectivity permeated each theme. Furthermore, the competencies reveal the necessity of a skill set that transcends typical disciplinary divisions—encompassing technology, intergroup relations, nonverbal and chronemic awareness, relational competence, and more. These competencies should be of interest to communication educators and trainers as they design curriculum and training plans for a contemporary audience.

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