 Feature
Story
They’ll
Teach You to Mind Your Own Business
By Donna Murray
A writing test isn’t part of the interview process for
candidates seeking entry-level management positions, but
perhaps it should be. The inability of some recent
business school graduates to write clearly and concisely
is a major stumbling block to their careers, say local
executives who hire them.
One reason for this gap in their skills set could be
that business students, by nature, tend to be hard-wired
towards the pragmatic, strategic and logical side of
business, and they see time spent beefing up their
composition skills as wasted. Email and text messaging,
with their plethora of abbreviations such as U for you,
have added to the problem.
 But if Robert Forsythe has his way, that’s about to
change. Forsythe, who became dean of the University of
South Florida’s business college a year ago, plans to
integrate the writing/editing process throughout the
curriculum. “In the past, the student has traditionally
waited to take a business writing course until the last
semester, when it does him the least amount of good,”
said Forsythe. “They need to know how to organize and
present their thoughts.”
To that end, Forsythe is encouraging the business
faculty to add related writing assignments to their
coursework. An accounting student, for example, could
write a report summarizing the results of a class
project, and be graded on both accounting skills and
prose. Those who find themselves wrangling with the
written word can get intensive writing/editing
instruction at the writing center that Forsythe is
rolling out this fall. Under the watchful eye of a
director, teaching assistants, who are majoring in a
writing field, will provide tutoring. They will also
grade the papers, lifting the burden from faculty.
If combining all those right-brain, left-brain
activities seems a bit incongruent, imagine adding
acting lessons to the mix. Forsythe hopes to persuade
staffers from the Patel Conservatory, which operates
under the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, to stage
improvisation shows in the Bulls Business Community, a
new residence hall aimed at creating a live-and-learn
environment for business students. The concept is a
take-off on Second City’s executive skill building
program through which the renowned comedy ensemble
teaches techniques for improving oral presentations and
team building. At this point, the shows will be
informal, once-a-week affairs, and not an official
course. “I think it will help our students with their
presentation skills and to think on their feet,”
Forsythe said.
Forsythe, 57, who came to USF from the University of
Iowa, is an expert on experimental economics. A
co-founder of the Iowa Electronic Markets, he developed
an online program for trading in futures contracts on
political and economic events, and has attracted
national attention for his work in forecasting elections
using financial markets.
Not content to limit its reach to surrounding areas –
65% of USF business grads remain in Tampa and 85% stay
in the state – USF will enter the global market in a big
way this fall when it launches a program to offer a
bachelor’s degree in Singapore. Initially, coursework
will focus on integrated business and marketing.
Partnering with Broward Community College and the Center
for American Education, a private company based in
Singapore, USF will offer condensed three-week courses,
to be taught by members of its business faculty. The
program will be self-sustaining financially.
“The concept of international business should infuse
everything we do in the college of business,” said
Forsythe. “The business world has changed dramatically
and borders aren’t as important as they used to be.
”This is a great, great way to get our faculty
international experience, which they can bring back to
their classrooms when they return,” said Forsythe. “We
will also allow a number of stateside students to take
the classes for the price of regular tuition. It will be
like a mini study-abroad program.”
Despite the glamour and excitement of going global, the
business college hasn’t forgotten its roots. Forsythe
expects to increase the college’s support of the local
community by expanding the number and content of its
community service programs. Recent events included a
free forum for business and community leaders on green
business practices and a two-day symposium on
communication skills, designed to show business leaders
how to improve their verbal and written presentations by
eliminating jargon and rambling sentences.
Next on the agenda is a seminar on Lean Management.
Slated for September 24-28, and in partnership with the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the week-long
program focuses on cutting waste, boosting productivity
and gaining a competitive edge. (Go to
lean@coba.usf.edu
for more information).
University of South Florida
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