Communication in the Workplace: The Experience of MPA Alumni

Effective communication is a bedrock for public affairs administrators to achieve the technical and service goals of their organizations, and NASPAA’s Universal Competency 5 (UC5) recognizes the significance of communicative competence. To understand how recent Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduates communicate in their professional positions, the authors conducted a qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews with 18 MPA alumni. Participants self-reported communicative successes and challenges, skills they used, and strategies for repairing miscommunication. They also identified program features that prepared them well and difficulties for which they wished for better preparation. By engaging with their alumni more systematically, MPA program leaders can ensure they teach the UC5 communication skills in ways that prepare their graduates to respond successfully to evolving public sector workplace demands and beyond.