Managers’ Perceptions of Gen Z’s Communication Readiness

This exploratory study investigates how frontline managers (n = 10) interpret Generation Z’s early-career communication challenges. Analyzed via constructivist grounded theory and Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), three themes emerged: professional communication readiness, interpersonal adaptability, and emotional regulation. Findings suggest that early-career communication breakdowns often reflect interpretive mismatches and accommodation failures rather than simple skill deficits. Rather than presenting definitive conclusions, these provisional insights offer a foundational framework to guide future large-scale validation studies, curriculum design, and workplace onboarding.