ScholarWorks@GVSU

First Steps to Developing English for specific Business Purposes Course: Project Manager Target Situation Analysis

Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall

PURPOSE: The linguistic diversity of U.S.-based and international companies, using English as a lingua franca among linguistically diverse professionals, and the project-driven nature of modern organizations require that English language communication skills are emphasized in preparatory and company-sponsored professional communication training courses. The English language and communication skills are critical for successful project management due to the project manager’s need to interact with diverse project stakeholders and manage multilingual and multicultural project teams. Non-native speakers of English encounter unique linguistic and cultural challenges as project managers. This project provides a target situation description and communication skills analysis for a project manager position. PROCEDURES: Utilizing research-based needs analysis methodologies, the researcher analyzed the Target Situation of a Project Manager position. Authentic documents and “subject matter expert” experience served as the artifacts of the analysis. OUTCOME: The Target Situation Analysis (TSA) provides a foundation for developing an English for Specific Business Purposes (ESBP) course for project managers and offers a research-based rationale for conducting analyses within organizations employing foreign-born professionals. IMPACT: The project suggests including ESBP training in the project management preparation programs and offering company-sponsored training. The results encourage organizations to conduct the analysis of the organizational communication. The project underlines the importance of including communication orientation in companies’ on-boarding process and offering training to project managers at the beginning of their employment.