Author

  • S. K. Naidoo

    • Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
    • South Africa
  • Hari Lall Garbharran

    • Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
    • South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the communication proficiency of the Cost and Management (CMA) students and to assess whether the studying of the subject,, ”Communication Skills”, is having any positive influence on students’ skills development. The research design for this paper was descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional. The target population was 556 CMA students. A census survey was conducted. Findings, which were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics, indicate a significant correlation between skills in English proficiency and better grades in CMA. This paper recommends the implementation of a screening mechanism and the provision for the acquisition of communication skills for first-year university students.

Keywords

References

  • Ameen, E., Bruns, S. M. & Jackson, C. (2010). Communication skills and accounting: Do perceptions match reality? Responsibilities and leadership education, 63-65.
  • Banda, F. (2003). A survey of literacy practices in black and coloured communities in South Africa: Towards pedagogy of multiliteracies. Language, culture and curriculum , 16(2), 106-129.
  • Blaylock, A. & Lacewell, S. K. (2008). Assessing prerequisites as a measure of success in principles of finance course. Academy of educational leadership , 12(1), 51-62.
  • Bohlmann, C. A. & Pretorius, E. J. (2002). Reading skills and mathematics. Higher education, 16(3), 196-206.
  • Bosire, J., Mondoh, H. & Barmao, A. (2008). Effect of streaming by gender on student achievement in mathematics in secondary schools in Kenya. Education, 28, 595-607.
  • Brown, B. A. (2010). Teachers’ accounts of the usefulness of multigrade teaching in promoting sustainable human-development related outcomes in rural South Africa. African studies, 36(1), 190-207.
  • Carver, R. P. (1978). Another look at rauding theory. Reading research quarterly , 13(1), 116-132.
  • Cheng, K. W. (2007).The curriculum design in universities from the perspective of providers in accounting education. Education , 127(4), 581-590.
  • Eiselen, R. & Geyser, H. (2003). Factors distinguishing between achievers and at risk students: a qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Higher education , 17(2), 118-130.
  • Fakeye, D. & Yemi, O. (2009). English language proficiency as a predictor of academic achievement among EFL students in Nigeria. Scientific research , 37(3), 490-495.
  • Gray, F. E. (2010). Specific oral communication skills desired in new accountancy graduates. Business communication quarterly , 73(1), 40-67.
  • Graham, A., Hampton, M. & Willett, C. (2009). What not to write: An intervention in written communication skills for accounting students. Management Education , 8(2).
  • Hall, M. (2001). Access to higher education: race, resources and social exclusion. Safundi: South African and American Comparative Studies , 2(2), 1-24.
  • Kurland, D. J. (2000). What is critical thinking? (Online). Available WWW: http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.htm (Accessed 22 September 2011).
  • Lanier, P. A. & Tanner, J. R. (1999). A report on gender and gender-related issues in the accounting professoriate. Education for business , 75(2), 76-82.
  • Lin, P., Grace, D., Krishnan, S. & Gilsdorf, J. (2010). Failure to communicate. The CPA, 63-65.
  • Matlala, M. Y. (2005). Barriers to academic achievement of first year African students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (online). Available WWW: http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/1365/Matlala_MY_2005.pdf?seque nce=1 (Accessed 19 November 2010).
  • Mitchell, C., Dillon, D., Wilson, T. S., Pithouse, K., Islam, F., O’Connor, K., Rudd, C., Staniforth, P. & Cole, A. (2010). Things fall apart and come together: Using the visual for refection in alternative teacher education programmes. Changing English , 17(1), 45-55 .
  • National award for management accounting (online). 2010. Available WWW: http://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/Member%20docs/nafma-APPENDIX.pdf (Accessed 26 July 2011).
  • Pantages, T. J. & Creedon, R. (1978). Studies in college attrition 1950-1975. Review of Education Research , 48(1), 49-101.
  • Perumal, J. (2009). Reading and creating critically leaderful schools that make a difference: the post-apartheid South African case. Leadership in education , 12(1), 35-49.
  • Phurutse, M. C. (2003). Redressing educational inequalities: A classroom perspective. Paper presented at Spencer Colloquium, Durban, 2003 .
  • Pickworth, G. (2001). Developing an instrument to identify MBCHB students’ approaches to learning. Higher education , 15(2), 140-145.
  • Princeton University wordnet (online). 2010. Available WWW: http://wordnet.princeton.edu/ (Accessed 23 September 2010).
  • Ramos, J. T. (2010). A study on schema activation, summarizing, and critical evaluation as predictors of writing proficiency. Research and review , 5, 31-39.
  • Rauchas, S., Rosman, B., Konidaris, J. & Sanders, I. (2006). Language performance at high school and success in first year computer science. Proceedings of SIGCSE 2006, Houston.
  • Shannon, C. E. (1948). A mathematical theory of communication. The bell system technical journal , 27(3), 379423.
  • Slabbert, J. A. & Gouws, D. G. (2006). The quest for powerful learning environments in higher education. Higher education , 20(2), 336-351.
  • Souter, C. W., Archer, M. & Rochford, K. (1992). Literal and inferential reading and comprehension skills. Higher education , 6(3), 30-35.
  • Spady, W. G. (1971). Dropouts from higher education towards an empirical model. Interchange , 2(3), 38-62.
  • Tshothsho, B. P. (2006). An investigation into English second language academic writing strategies for black students at the Eastern Cape Technikon (online). Available WWW: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_gen8Srv25Nme4_4626_1183703507.pdf, (Accessed 06/09/2010).
  • Vinke, A. A. & Jochems, W. M. G. (1993). English proficiency and academic success in international postgraduate education. Higher education , 26, 275-285.
  • Welman, J. C., Kruger, S. J. & Mitchell, B. C. (2005). Research methodology. Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa.
  • Wessels, P. L. (2005).Critical information and communication technology and communication for professional accountants. Meditari accountancy research , 13(1), 87-103.
  • Wong, D. S. N. & Chia, Y. (1996). English language, mathematics and first-year financial accounting performance: a research note. Accounting education , 5(2), 183-189.

Downloads

No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.

How to Cite

Naidoo, S. K., & Garbharran, H. L. (2013). Communication Skills as a Subject in the Programme Cost and Management Accounting at a South African University. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 5(7), 484-495. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v5i7.422

Share this article

Section

Research Paper

Published

2013-07-30

Submissions

Have research to publish? Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies welcomes submissions.

Make a Submission