An Analysis of the Academic Environment in Business and Professional Communication

Abstract

While previous research in business communication has surveyed business and professional communication instructors regarding their courses, it has not yet asked instructors about additional factors that affect their ability to teach and their students’ ability to learn. These factors include job satisfaction, institutional and collegial support, academic rank, physical teaching environment, teaching and learning resources, and student issues. This study examines the results of a survey of business and professional communication instructors regarding these factors, discusses implications for the disciplines of business and professional communication, and suggests additional avenues for advocacy and research.

A Critique of Transmission Communication Models in Introductory Management and Organizational Behavior Textbooks

“…Of note is that 30% of business communication courses are taught outside of business schools in departments of English or communication taught by instructors. Many of these instructors hold non-business degrees, and even among the 70% of instructors in business schools, not all are guaranteed to have a business degree (Lentz et al, 2020; Moshiri & Cardon, 2014). However, business communication instructors—whatever their degree—have in common a professional and scholarly interest in the role of communication in business contexts; these professional and scholarly interests help define business communication as a business discipline.…”

“…Some may argue that business communication courses, taught by communication instructors with expertise in business-specific communication, are sufficient for providing students with the foundational knowledge needed to understand business communication in their other business courses. But while it is true that business communication courses are growing in the US (Lentz et al, 2020; Moshiri & Cardon, 2014), these courses cannot bear the sole responsibility for teaching students how to communicate in a business environment. As with any disciplinary knowledge, transformational learning happens when students learn, practice, and repeat this process across the curriculum.…”

Perspectives: Revisited

“…In the first article from the Business and Professional Communication Quarterly by Lentz et al (2020), the authors investigate different factors that impact business and professional communication instructors focusing on teaching, job satisfaction, salary, rank, promotion, administrative support, student concerns and several others. The research was to identify specific, common areas of need; areas of diverse needs; gather data for improving the academic environment; articulate steps for advocating for healthy teaching environments; and to learn what ABC (Association for Business Communication), the professional organization, can do to advocate for those who teach business and professional communication.…”