Global influences on modern industry and oral presentation barriers of engineering students of Pakistan

Abstract

Globalization has brought dramatic changes in engineering workplace and it demands new skills and knowledge of engineering graduates to be fit in this competitive work environment of organizations. The present study aims at investigating barriers that hinder effective oral presentation performance of engineering students of Pakistan for workplace environment. A survey questionnaire was distributed to final engineering students from three engineering universities of Pakistan. Out of a pool 287 engineering students completed this survey questionnaire. Purposive sampling method was employed for data collection purpose since respondents were drawn on specific criteria of only final year engineering students from specific engineering departments surveyed for this study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to draw percentages for variables included in the questionnaire. The results of the study indicate that poor oral communication skill, low self confidence, stress and nervousness and low motivation hinder effective oral presentation performance of engineering students. However, the results of this study are consistent with other literature findings relating to barriers that hinder effective oral presentation performance of engineering students.