The role of peer feedback in the development of students' ability to engage in difficult conversations about performance

Research in business education continues to emphasise the importance of developing curricula that make explicit and support students’ acquisition of skills and knowledge. Increasingly businesses want graduates to be able to manage a project, work in a team, and communicate and persuade – both orally and in writing. A report from the Association of Business Schools (ABS, 2014) highlights the value of experiential learning as a means to developing skills and a business ready global mind. The ABS (2014) research report highlights the people - management skills which employers look for in new managers, the ability to have difficult conversations about performance with peers and the related skills of reflection and self-awareness are highlighted. This paper focuses on the ability of undergraduate BA Events Management and BA Fashion Marketing students to provide honest written peer feedback and hold difficult conversations with their peers. The findings show that the majority of students engaged with the online written peer feedback and subsequent face to face sessions. However, some were reluctant to provide difficult feedback in the face to face meetings.