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ERIC Number: ED578975
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 381
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-3551-7277-5
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Developing Soft Skills in Millennial Students: A Delphi Study
McCullough-Billups, Mary Y.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Capella University
This study addressed the deficiency in soft skills of millennial workers in the United States. The weakness or absence of soft skills of millennial workers is problematic because Millennials are rapidly increasing in the workplace as large numbers of baby boomers are retiring. The purpose of this study was to obtain the expert opinions of a sample of participants closest to the phenomenon based on their experience working with Millennials, to answer two research questions: (a) What soft skills must Millennials have to perform effectively in leadership roles and other positions in the workplace? and (b) What are management educators, business leaders, and behavioral specialists' perceptions of the best means for instilling these skills in millennials workers and students that can be incorporated in course curricula and workplace training programs? The Delphi technique, the research methodology used, consists of an iterative process in which data requested and received by the facilitator are returned to panel members, allowing them more than one opportunity to consider their responses, with the objective of the group reaching a consensus. All educators in higher education, all business and organizational leaders, and all behavioral specialists that include psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, academic counselors, and human resources specialists, whose responsibilities include understanding and managing workplace behaviors, were in the study's population. Sample participants were individuals from prior generations, recruited from across the United States, who have worked with Millennials in at least 1 of the 3 categories of the study's population for a minimum of 2 years. Data analysis includes content analysis and simple, descriptive statistics consisting of the most frequently offered information and ranked order. This means of data isolation was used to identify the final group of soft skills and means for development offered by participants. Study results identify 14 soft skills concluded by participants as those that Millennials should have to perform their jobs well in the 21st-century workplace. Participant feedback also included a group of means for development that the expert panel members concluded are the most effective for skill development for each soft skill reached by group consensus. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A