CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The effect of bureaucratic administration on secretarial function:
Bureaucracy in Government Administration
A bureaucratic Administration can said to be a system of
administration which provide routine and uninterrupted service
especially in government circle such as ministries, parastatals or
government establishment to ensure that government policies are carried
out effectively and diligently.
Therefore it is a step by step way in which official duties
are carried out from the executive down to the lowest staff.
The Nigeria Government got this idea from British who
during their stay in Nigeria have been practicing bureaucracy in their
governmental system, through “fixed authority and official jurisdiction”
where the authority of all individual is based upon specific grant of
power to an office.
Modern Practice of Bureaucracy in Government Establishments
The practice of bureaucracy in government establishments has changed.
The early practice requires the office holder to possess some
traditional virtue such as age, skill and knowledge which becomes the
basis of his or her authority.
However, in today’s practice, bureaucracy has caused a negative effect in civil service as well as secretarial functions.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
Delay in File Movement
Files are used in filing written communications like – letters,
memos, reports, circulars, agreements, newspapers etc. the aim of filing
these documents is for reference purposes. However, these files pass
through many personnel before getting to the secretary who needs them to
carry out her duties thereby causing delay and poor achievement in the
performance of secretarial functions.
Payment of salaries and benefits are very important to every civil
servant but the long delay in forwarding the necessary information
required for the preparation of the salaries has resulted to the late
payment of these salaries and benefits. Therefore bureaucracy in the
administration of office work affects the job of the secretary, in that
what ought to get to the secretary quickly for quick passage to the
end-use is delayed by the bureaucratic process.
None Confidential of Information
Some information are meant to be confidential and ought to get to who
should us it unhampered. More so, a confidential secretary is
handicapped in carrying out her functions due to bureaucratic processes;
in as much as these information passes through many people before
getting to whom such information is meant for; As a result the
confidentially remains eroded.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of bureaucratic
administration on secretarial functions, which among other things
includes:
- i. To identify leadership style by the executive (manager)
- ii. To find out the factors responsible for secretary’s failure in the performance of her duties effectively
- iii. To determine whether other people like co-staff
manager and the public contributed in the failure of a good bureaucratic
in our administrations.
- iv. To proffer suggestions based on the findings of the study.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study will cover the following arrears: the various leadership
styles adopted by the executive towards their subordinates and their
effects on the secretary’s productivity.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research study would highlight the various ways by which bureaucracy breaded red-tape in civil service administration.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- i. What are the leadership styles adopted by executive / managers?
- ii. What are the factors responsible for poor performance in secretarial functions?
- iii. Is bureaucracy system good to our civil service administration?