The Effects of Inadequate Computers on the Field of Secretarial Training
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To identify whether the secretarial department lacks the necessary equipment that enhance secretarial functions
- To examine if the non availability of adequate equipment affects students and workers performance
- To determine the effort made between the department, institution and government in ensuring adequate provision of equipment in the training of students
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
SECRETARIES BEFORE ICT
In the early 50’s to the 1970’s the nature of the secretary work was very tedious and unorganized. This is due to the fact that the type of machine used was very archaic, rickety, not encouraging and slow. The paper work was very boring and most times uncompleted. This led to low productions and fatigue. The status of the secretary was declining both socially and economically. The image of the typical secretary before the Technology advancement portrayed them as having longer and convenient working hours for themselves and poor job quality with minimal output.
The organizations then got the secretaries they deserved, as they were inadequate, generally, though this was not apparent. They were seen to be successful, because, business was at that time at an easy low level of development. The secretaries then were ill-trained, timid, undeveloped, unprofessional and stereotyped. Their technical skill was weak and their compartment was deficient. Secretaries of that time performed their general duties indifferently and were more of liabilities than assets.
In accordance, with the ‘‘I am of motion’’, change is a constant phenomenon. If we look at the beginning of man to the present day, we would see that there had been tremendous changes. If these had not occurred, man would have remained primitive today. Change is a challenge and if we abide by change, it brings out the best in us and leads us to enormous progress. The effect of change can be seen in the following areas globally. Science and Technology, Commerce and Industries, Communication, Managerial skill, Education, Polities etc.
In the past the secretaries were ill-defined such that the executives could not get the best out of their secretaries. They treated secretaries as tea-makers and not takers. What was expected of the so-called secretaries then was to take down notes in shorthand and transcribe in the rugged old fashioned typewriter. The secretary’s functions had been based on typing with manual typewriter, answering of telephone calls, Receiving of visitors, serving tea to the boss and such similar duties.
Infects, secretaries were seen as just mere messengers in the organization who is just employed to serve the boss. The side effects of old secretaries can easily be directed on a first visit to the organization. The unexposed, ill-informed secretary is roughly to behold, his/her exception of old secretary is cold and hostile. He/she is grumpy and responds to honest inquiries aggressively. His/her communication abilities are poor and no effort is made to seek, accept or acknowledge corrections. The old secretaries jobs are always bad to behold, because when documents are printed, they are full of errors. The old secretaries did not show any initiative nor intelligence.It is obvious that the above facts, call for a change, because, there is no place for incompetent secretary in the modern office, only the effective and efficient secretary will survive the challenge of Information and Communication Technology.
CHALLENGES OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO MODERN SECRETARIES
Technological changes in our environment coupled with competition within a particular industry or in the society pose a lot of challenges to modern secretaries. The secretaries, not only have their equipment changed, but also their administrative processes, office routine, management systems are similarly evolving into new forms. Automation has been the order of the day. Electronic typewriter, word processors, and personal computers have replaced manual typewriters and electric typewriters, while fax machine has replaced telex machines. There are also different types of advanced communication gadgets.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the effects of inadequate computers on the field of secretarial training
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source: Personal interview was conducted with the staff of first bank of Nigeria plc.
Secondary source: The secondary formed the major theoretical part that was derived through critical review of library and also other related literature (material written by others researchers).
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on the effects of inadequate computers on the field of secretarial training. 200 staff of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the effects of inadequate computers on the field of secretarial training
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of inadequate computers on the field of secretarial training
Summary
This study was on the effects of inadequate computers on the field of secretarial training. Three objectives were raised which included: To identify whether the secretarial department is lacking the necessary equipment that enhance secretarial functions, to examine if the non availability of adequate equipment affects students and workers performance and to determine the effort made between the department, institution and government in ensuring adequate provision of equipment in the training of students. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made senior lecturers, secretaries, graduate assistants and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
In line with the objectives of the study and the data gathered from chapter four, the following conclusions have been reached;
- The manufacturing organization should have sufficient modern office equipment and technologies
- There is a high level of usage of these equipment’s by modern secretaries as such their secretary should be kept a brace
- The use of modern office equipment increase productivity of secretarial staff
- The secretarial staff believes they are highly productive.
Recommendations
Haven completed the study; the researcher recommends that monitoring of the routine and systematic accumulation of information against a plan. The information might be about activities, products or services, users, or about outside factors affecting the organization or project. Secretaries should always be ready and open minded to acquire additional training/skills development, bearing in mind that changes occur frequently in the line of their chosen career and they are not left behind in the use of ICT in this digital age.
REFERENCES
- Brynjolfsson, E. and L. Hitt (2000), “Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organization Transformation and Business Performance,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14: 23-48.
- Brightman. R. W. and Dimsdale, .J. M (1986), Using Computers in the information Age, Canada: Delmar Publishers Inc.
- Boladele, Y. (2002) Secretarial Efficiency in an Automated Office: Journal of The School Vocational and Technical Education (THE VAS JOURNAL), 7 (1): 123-134
- Frenzel, C.W. (1992) Management of Information Technology, USA, Boyd & Fraser Publishing Company, 1st ed.
- Grant, N., Hurley, J. , Hartley K., et al (2000) E- Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
- Igbinedion, V.I. (2010). “Knowing the Graduate office Secretary”, Ozean Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1): 116-120.
