Skip to main content

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of what is meant by the term soft skills, draws on various sources in literature to define the concept and explores how soft skills are important to everyone in every context, as it entails the involvement of personal aspects within any relationship. Soft skills are important to students, as they are linked to job performances and career development; they are crucial for employees who need to manage their interactions and emotions in order to interact effectively with customers and get engaged with the workplace missions; for management and leadership skills, as they help lead teams towards common and shared goals, accomplish organisational missions and support organisations in their future directions and visions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ashton, F. (1994). The other managers’ competencies. Training Officer, 30(1), 15–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacolod, M., Blum, B. S., & Strange, W. C. (2009). Urban interactions: Soft skills versus specialization. Journal of Economic Geography, 9(2), 227–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-On, R. (1992). The development of a concept and test of psychological well-being. Unpublished manuscript. Tel Aviv: Reuven Bar-On.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-On, R. (1997). EQ-i BarOn emotional quotient inventory: A measure of emotional intelligence: Technical manual. Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1990). Developing transformational leadership: 1992 and beyond. Journal of European Industrial Training, 14(5).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedwell, W. L., Salas, E., & Fiore, S. M. (2011). Developing the 21st century (and beyond) workforce: A review of interpersonal skills & measurement strategies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1973). Affiliation motivation: A review and a new perspective. In D. C. McClelland & R. S. Steele (Eds.), Human motivation: A book of readings (pp. 252–276). Morristown, NJ: General Learning Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1982). The competent manager: A model for effective performance. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E., & Goleman, D. (2001). The emotional competence inventory: University edition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D., & Rhee, K. (2000). Clustering competence in emotional intelligence: Insights from the Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI)s. In R. Bar-On & J. D. A. Parker (Eds.), Handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 343–362). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, G., Williams, S., Kelly, A., & Yee, H. (2001). Fostering deep and elaborative learning and generic (soft) skill development: The strategic use of case studies in accounting education. Accounting Education, 10(1), 37–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray, D. W., Campbell, R. J., & Grant, D. L. (1979). Formative years in business: A long-term AT & T study of managerial lives. RE Krieger Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgoon, J. K., & Dunbar, N. E. (2000). An interactionist perspective on dominance‐submission: Interpersonal dominance as a dynamic, situationally contingent social skill. Communications Monographs, 67(1), 96–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caudron, S. (1999). The hard case for soft skills. Workforce, 78(7), 60–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chia, M. Y. (2005). Job offers of multi-national accounting firms: The effects of emotional intelligence, extra-curricular activities, and academic performance. Accounting Education, 14(1), 75–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, T. (1995). Managing consultants: Consultancy as the management of impressions. McGraw-Hill International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connelly, M. S., Gilbert, J. A., Zaccaro, S. J., Threlfall, K., Marks, M. A., & Mumford, M. D. (2000). Exploring the relationship of leadership skills and knowledge to leader performance. The Leadership Quarterly, 11(1), 65–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conrad, C. A. (1999). Soft skills and the minority work force. Washington, DC: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deepa, S., & Seth, M. (2013). Do soft skills matter? Implications for educators based on recruiters’ perspective. Implications for educators based on recruiters’ perspective. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 7(1), 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education. New York, NY: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreyfus, H. L., & Dreyfus, S. E. (1989). Why computers may never think like people (pp. 125–143). MIT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, D. D. (Ed.). (1998). The competency casebook: Twelve studies in competency-based performance improvement. Human Resource Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, F. D., Gordon, G. H., Whelan, G., Cole-Kelly, K., & Frankel, R. (2004). Assessing competence in communication and interpersonal skills: The Kalamazoo II report. Academic Medicine, 79(6), 495–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (1993a). Multiple intelligences: The theory in practice. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (1993b). Creating Minds. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (2006). Multiple intelligences: New horizons. New York, NY: Basic Books. 1st ed. 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H., & Hatch, T. (1989). Educational implications of the theory of multiple intelligences. Educational Researcher, 18(8), 4–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, L., & Stough, C. (2002). Examining the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence in senior level managers. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 23(2), 68–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillard, S. (2009). Soft skills and technical expertise of effective project managers. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 6(2009), 723–729.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giloth, R. P. (2000). Learning from the field: Economic growth and work-force development in the 1990s. Economic Development Quarterly, 14(4), 340–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter. New York, NY: Bantham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. Chicago, IL: Random House LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, M. A. G., Abu Kasim, N. H., & Naimie, Z. (2013). Soft skills and dental education. European Journal of Dental Education, 17(2), 73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, J. (2002). Interpersonal skills at work. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochwarter, W. A., Witt, L. A., Treadway, D. C., & Ferris, G. R. (2006). The interaction of social skill and organizational support on job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(2), 482–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogarth, R. M. (2001). Educating intuition. University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell, S., Scholarios, D., & Thompson, P. (2012). More than a ‘humpty dumpty’ term: Strengthening the conceptualization of soft skills. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 34(1), 161–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, K., & Brefka, D. (1997). Personnel administrators’ preferences for resume content: Ten years after. Business Communication Quarterly, 60(2), 67–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. (2010). An international profile of industry-relevant competencies and skill gaps in modern graduates. The International Journal of Management Education, 8(3), 29–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, R. F., & James, M. L. (2004). Teaching career and technical skills in a “mini” business world. Business Education Forum, 59, 39–41. National Business Education Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeyaraj, A. (2010). Business process elicitation, modeling, and reengineering: Teaching and learning with simulated environments. Journal of Information Systems Education, 21(2), 253–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, D., Ang, S., Chang, R. H., & Slaughter, S. A. (2010). Practical intelligence in IT: Assessing soft skills of IT professionals. Communications of the ACM, 53(2), 149–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kantrowitz, T. M. (2005). Development and construct validation of a measure of soft skills performance (unpublished doctoral dissertation). Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klaus, P., Rohman, J., & Hamaker, M. (2007). The hard truth about soft skills: Workplace lessons smart people wish they’d learned sooner. HarperCollins e-books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, C., DeRouin, R. E., & Salas, E. (2006). Uncovering workplace inter-personal skills: A review, framework, and research agenda. International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 21, 79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemp, G. O., & McClelland, D. C. (1986). What characterizes intelligent functioning among senior managers. In Practical intelligence: Nature and origins of competence in the everyday world (pp 31–50).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, D. A., & Fry, R. E. (1974). Toward an applied theory of experiential learning. In C. Cooper (Ed.), Theories of group process (pp. 33–58). London: Wiley, MIT, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlowe, H. A. (1986). Social intelligence: Evidence for multidimensionality and construct independence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 78(1), 52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, R., Villeneuve-Smith, F., Marshall, L., & McKenzie, E. (2008). Employability skills explored. London: Learning and Skills Network. http://www.lsneducation.org.uk

  • Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1993). The intelligence of emotional intelligence. Intelligence, 17(4), 433–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClelland, D. C. (1973). Testing for competence rather than for “intelligence”. American Psychologist, 28(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClelland, D. C. (1998). Identifying competencies with behavioural-event interviews. Psychological Science, 9(5), 331–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, P., & Tilly, C. (1996). “Soft” skills and race: An investigation of black men’s employment problems. Work and Occupations, 23(3), 252–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, J. (1997). Graduates deficient in soft skills. People Management, 6, 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murata, A. (2008). Human error management paying emphasis on decision making and social intelligence-beyond the framework of man–machine interface design. In Proceedings: Fourth International Workshop on Computational Intelligence & Applications (Vol. 2008, No. 1, pp. 1–12). IEEE SMC Hiroshima Chapter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muzio, E., & Fisher, D. (2009). Soft skill quantification (SSQ): Human performance vs. metric. Cost Engineering, 51(3), 26–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muzio, E., Fisher, D. J., Thomas, E. R., & Peters, V. (2007). Soft skills quantification (SSQ) for project manager competencies. Project Manager Journal, 38(2), 30–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell, D. (2002). The smarter they are the harder they fail. Career Development International, 7(5), 288–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oppenheimer, L. (1989). The nature of social action: Social competence versus social conformism. In Social competence in developmental perspective (pp. 41–69). Amsterdam: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, B., Walls, M., Burgess, Z., & Stough, C. (2001). Emotional intelligence and effective leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 22(1), 5–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pate, J., Martin, G., & Robertson, M. (2003). Accrediting competencies: A case of Scottish vocational qualifications. Journal of European Industrial Training, 27(2/3/4), 169–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perreault, H. (2004). Basic business-business educators can take a leadership role in character education. Business Education Forum, 59, 23–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrenoud, P. (1997). Construire des compétences dès l’école (3rd ed.). Paris: ESF éditeur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pink, D. (2005). A whole new mind: Why right-brainers will rule the world.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, J. A., Hauser, K., & Ross, S. C. (2010). IS staffing during a recession: Comparing student and IS recruiter perceptions. Journal of Information Systems Education, 21(1), 69–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, R. W., & Dutta, A. (1995). Skill acquisition and human performance. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainsbury, E., Hodges, D., Burchell, N., & Lay, M. (2002). Ranking work-place competencies: Student and graduate perceptions. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 3(2), 9–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranade, S., Tamara, C., Castiblanco, E., & Serna, A. (2010). Mapping competencies. Mechanical Engineering, 132(2), 30–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 453–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saarni, C. (1990). Emotional competence: How emotions and relationships become integrated. In R. A. Thompson (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation (Vol. 36, pp. 115–182).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadler-Smith, E. and Shefey, E. (2004). The intuitive executive: understanding and applying ‘gut feel’ in decision-making. Academy of Management Executive. Vol 18, No 4. pp76–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadler-Smith, E., & Shefy, E. (2010). Intuitive intelligence. In J. Gold, A. Mumford, & R. Thorpe (Eds.), Gower handbook of leadership and management development (pp. 387–403). Gower Publishing, Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, M. (2009). How important are soft skills from the recruiter’s perspective. The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills, 3(2), 19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöberg, L. (2001). Emotional intelligence: A psychometric analysis. European Psychologist, 6(2), 79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skulmoski, G. J., & Hartman, F. T. (2010). Information systems project manager soft competencies: A project‐phase investigation. Project Management Journal, 41(1), 61–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, A. V., & Ebeling, H. W., Jr. (1992). Targeting a company’s real core competencies. Journal of Business Strategy, 13(6), 26–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spearman, C. (1904). “General intelligence”, objectively determined and measured. The American Journal of Psychology, 15(2), 201–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, R. J. (1985). Beyond IQ: A triarchic theory of human intelligence. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, R. J., Forsythe, G. B., Hedlund, J., Horvath, J. A., Wagner, R. K., Williams, W. M., Snook, S. A., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2000). Practical intelligence in everyday life. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strebler, M. (1997). Soft skills and hard questions. People Management, 3(11), 20–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukhoo, A., Barnard, A., Eloff, M. M., Van der Poll, J. A., & Motah, M. (2005). Accommodating soft skills in software project management. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 2, 691–703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sultana, R. G. (2009). Competence and competence frameworks in career guidance: Complex and contested concepts. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 9(1), 15–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svetličič, M., & Kajnč, S. (2009). Small States Presidency Competences; the case of Slovenian EU Council ‘Presidency’in 2008. Forthcoming in Halduskultuur–Administrative Culture, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool/Tallinn University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorndike, E. L. (1920). Intelligence and its uses. Harper’s magazine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, R. K., & Sternberg, R. J. (1985). Practical intelligence in real-world pursuits: The role of tacit knowledge. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49(2), 436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, C. M. (1983). Leadership, management, and the seven keys. Business Horizons, 26(2), 8–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. R., Finley, D. A., Crawford, A., & Rivera, D. (2009). An exploratory study identifying soft skill competencies in entry-level managers. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 9(4), 353–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellington, J. K. (2005). The “soft skills” of success. Vital Speeches of the

    Google Scholar 

  • Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2001). Developing management skills. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whetten, D., Cameron K., & Woods, M. (2000). Developing management skills for Europe. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whetten, D. A., Cameron, K. S., & Woods, M. (2000). Developing management skills for Europe (2nd ed.). Harlow: Pearson Financial Times Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodruffe, C. (1993). What is meant by a competency? Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 14(1), 29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E. F. (1972). Project head start: Success or failure? Children Today, 2(6), 2–7.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dell’Aquila, E., Marocco, D., Ponticorvo, M., di Ferdinando, A., Schembri, M., Miglino, O. (2017). Soft Skills. In: Educational Games for Soft-Skills Training in Digital Environments. Advances in Game-Based Learning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06311-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06311-9_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-06310-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-06311-9

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics