| The problem of this study was to determine what communication skills U.S. international managers need. A questionnaire was mailed to 380 vice presidents (international) in the Fortune 500. The 78 responding companies cover 233 industrial fields classified by SIC.;The respondents rated nonverbal, written, oral, and managerial communication skills as "important" for international managers. The following 12 skills were rated as "more important" for international than for domestic business persons: physical touch, distance/space, time, writing agreements/contracts, holding negotiations, listening actively, building relations, showing respect, increasing cultural sensitivity, resolving conflicts, maintaining flexibility, and analyzing audience.;Fewer than 3 percent of the respondents indicated their international managers' oral and nonverbal skills were developed in college courses; and fewer than 4 percent rated college coursework or college training programs as the major method of developing additional skills. The respondents evaluated their international managers as "competent" in all 36 skills listed on the questionnaire. |
