Larry R. Smeltzer

Gender Differences in Managerial Communication: Fact or Folk-linguistics?.

The literature on gender differences in managerial communications is strongly influenced by folk-linguistics. This study used written managerial communications to test the quality and stylistic differences purported to exist between genders . The gender of the sender and the receiver did not have a significant effect on the style or quality of written communications. Differences in communication styles between men and women may be limited to verbal and nonverbal communication.

Managerial Communication: The Merging of Business Communication, Organizational Communication, and Management

The evolution of managerial communication from three differentiated disciplines is presented in this article. The traditional approaches to the three disciplines are first presented, and the impact that the information society is having on communication is explored. Then the evolution of a new discipline is analyzed from a structure, function, and system viewpoint. Obstacles to the development of a managerial communication course—student backgrounds, academic respectability, and faculty preparation—are also presented.

Listening: An empirical comparison of discussion length and level of incentive

This study was designed to compare strategies used to improve listening skills in business communication settings. It analyzed the effect of discussion length and incentive level on the ability of subjects to listen to and identify main points in twenty‐two short dialogues. The results suggest that both discussion length and incentive level have an effect on listening ability.

How Business Communication Needs Differ among Professions.

In this era of specialization, is communication more important in some professions than in others? Is there a difference among professions in the communication skills required for success? Do graduates from different professional disciplines believe they had adequate undergraduate preparation in communication for their selected professions? The answers to these questions are important to business educators involved with communication skill development. The answers can provide valuable information for both course development and recruitment of students from disciplines other than business. Unfortunately, the

Topics for Business Communication Research

*Members of the Subcommittee were: John D. Pettit, Jr., Chair; Joel P. Bowman; Bernadine Branchaw; Howard Greenbaum; Leah Grubb; James M. Lahiff; John M. Penrose; William Sharbrough; Norman B. Sigband; Gretchen N. Vik; Morris P. Wolf; Mohan Limaye; Robert Insley; Lamar Reinsch; and Larry Smeltzer. This report combines efforts of the 1985, 1986, and 1987 Committees. ORGANIZATIONAL/MANAGERIAL COMMUNICATION

Transmission and Retrieval of Information: Statements and Hypotheses for Research

The impact of technology on communication is reviewed. Four general variables relating to business communication systems and communication technology are analyzed: channeling which involves the direction, route, and destination of information; timing which includes the time factor between message receipt and transmission; editing which considers message modification; and abstracting which concerns summarizing major points of a message. Fourteen statements that relate to information transmission and retrieval for each of these variables and their corresponding needed areas of research are presented. These statements will enable business communicators to understand better the relationship between communication technology and business communication systems for future research considerations.

Responses to Carter A. Daniel's Article "Remembering Our Charter: Business Communication at the Crossroads," Summer 1983

I read Professor Daniel’s article with great interest. It makes some excellent points: the parallels with Education, English, and Sociology are apt; the pleas against too much method, analysis, and pomposity are persuasive. Not only that-his tone is particularly incisive and witty. Unfortunately, however, I believe his arguments go awry in two places. One mistake is his use of the word secondary. Although we should certainly not overstate our own importance, it does not follow that we should be second-class. To draw an analogy with the women’s movement, we should not claim that all women are superior, but neither should we relegate ourselves to being inferior. Daniel draws a false differentiation between &dquo;business communication&dquo; and &dquo;its great master, business.&dquo; What, after all, is &dquo;business&dquo;? Business includes accounting, marketing, finance, organizational behavior, and so forth. Business communication is one of the components for success in businessjust as the others are. None of them can stand alone; all are equally important. Second, I think he is off base with his concept of &dquo;style.&dquo; &dquo;Business communication&dquo; is

Presenting a Course in Business and Industry: Suggestions and Caveats.

More and more frequently than in the past, communication instructors are being asked to present courses in business and industry. Based on their experience in more than forty different companies, the authors present suggestions designed to increase the effectiveness of such communication courses. Emphasis is placed on an initial meeting with representatives of the company, in order to insure the proper climate, class preparation, and teaching style.

Perceptions of Nonverbal Communication during the Selection Interview.

or negative evidence found early in the interview can have a particularly strong influence later. To measure the Einstellung effect, Springbett assessed the written application form and appearance of applicants independently and alternatively and found that the application is most important in final interview decisions. However, unless the application and personal appearance were both assessed favorably, an applicant’s chances of employment were low.’ A later study by Springbett found that first impressions significantly affect final employment decisions. a More recently, another research team found that when interviewers have dif-

An Integrated Approach for a Graduate Course in Business Communication.

In many cases graduate courses are relatively new, and in other situations the offerings are being expanded; consequently, there is a general interest in the pedagogical strategies used for these courses. However, discussions with professors at universities having as many as 10,000 students in the college of business as well as with professors in small private universities reveal one universal concern: how can the three topical areas of communication-written, oral, and organizational-be integrated into one graduate course? This question is being confronted by universities who have a course just for masterlevel students. The dilemma is present because it is recognized that all three areas of communication