Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Industry professionals reported that students, upon internship completion, would be most skilled in 
leadership, role-modeling competencies: 
demonstrating professional appearance and poise
and 
portraying 
enthusiasm and work commitment
(see Table 1).
Table 1 
Student Competency Level upon Completing Internship and Program Prerequisites
Domain 
Rank 
Mean 
Competency 
N 
Mean 
Prerequisite 
Leadership: 
Role Modeling
1 
4.16 
Demonstrating professional appearance 
79 
4.32 
* 
Portraying enthusiasm. 
84 
4.31 
* 
Portraying work commitment. 
86 
4.23 
* 
Portraying diligence and initiative. 
91 
3.96 

Portraying competence and confidence. 

101 
3.91 

Ethics & Trust 

2 
4.02 
Maintaining professional and ethical 
91 
4.20 

Cultivating climate of trust. 

103 
3.83 

Customer 

3 
3.93 
Maintaining customer satisfaction. 
113 
4.08 

Centeredness 

Recognizing customer problems. 
116 
4.04 

Developing positive customer relations. 

117 
3.95 

Managing customer problems with 

117 
3.85 

Solving customer problems. 

116 
3.75 

Interpersonal 

3 
3.93 
Listening skills. 
89 
4.12 
* 
Face-to-face communication skills. 
99 
3.96 

Oral communication skills. 

88 
3.93 
* 
Resolving conflicts. 
116 
3.63 

Creative 

4 
3.84 
Adapting creatively to change. 
104 
3.84 

Technical 

5 
3.82 
Knowledge of product/service. 
115 
3.82 

*
Over 25% of respondents stating students to master competency prior to entering into internship program.

Scale: 1=not at all skilled; 2=not very skilled; 3=somewhat skilled; 4=skilled; 5=extremely skilled 

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