Abstract
Training and development is presented as a career path for speech communication students in response to reduced teaching opportunities and growing interest in nonteaching employment. The article describes training and development as a business, industry, and government function that depends on teaching, communication, facilitation, program design, needs analysis, media use, research, and human resource skills. It reviews professional role descriptions and survey findings indicating that human relations and communication skills are central to effective training practice. The article also summarizes employer studies identifying oral communication, writing, and interpersonal communication as common weaknesses among college graduates and as barriers to job success. Examples of academic programs in training and human resource development show how speech communication curricula can incorporate courses in persuasion, interpersonal communication, small group communication, interviewing, instructional communication, program evaluation, internships, and interdisciplinary study. The article frames training and development as a viable career alternative that extends speech communication education into organizational settings.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, John R.
(1984)
"Training and Development: A Career Alternative,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 50, Article 19.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol50/iss1/19
