ABSTRACT
The core objective of this study is to
identify the effect of modern communication equipment on secretarial
performances in some manufacturing firms especially NB Plc-Enugu. This study comprises of fire chapter and each chapter is elaborate and explicit on the
subject matter. However, nine
research questions were formulated in
the study and the researcher made use of percentages to analyse the data
collected.
The data for this study was gathered through
the use of interview guide, questionnaire few books on the topic, and past
studies directly related to the study.
It is
inferred from the study that a secretary cannot really perform
effectively and efficiently without the use of modern communication equipment
and as the case may be, office equipment has been developing since seventeenth
century until now.
This study is intended to find out the modern
office communication equipment in use in manufacturing firms, the job
efficiency on the part of the secretary with the use of these equipment, the
job satisfaction they give to secretaries, the challenges they pose, the
problem encountered by secretaries on the usage and how far they have helped in
enhancing the secretaries efficiency in the organization.
Finally, five manufacturing firms based in
EnuguState of Nigeria were selected for this study, while the population of
this study comprises 60 secretaries and 40 Boss making it a total of 100
respondents used in this study.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
Abstract
Chapter one
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Background of the study
1.2
Statement of the problem
1.3
The objective or purpose of the study
1.4
Delimitation of the study
1.5
Research questions
1.6
Significance of the study
Chapter two
2.0
Review of related literature
2.1
Introduction of office automation
2.2
The reasons for moderns communication
Office equipment
2.3
Modern communication equipments compared
With the old equipment in secretarial field
2.4
Problems secretaries encounter in the use of these
Modern communication office equipmen
2.5 Summaries
Chapter three
3.0
Methodologie
3.1
Research Design
3.2
Area of Study
3.3
Population of the study
3.4
Sample and Sampling Procedure
3.5
Instrument for the Data Collection
3.6
Validation of the Research Instrument
3.7
Method of Administration of the Research Instrument
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data Presentation and Results
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Analysis of Data
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Discussion, Implication; Recommendation
5.1 Discussion of Results
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Implications of the result
5.4
Recommendation
5.5
Suggestion for further research
Bibliography
Appendix
Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In discussing the impact of modern communication equipment on the
secretarial performance in organizations; two factors are to be recognized.
Technological growth and organizational structure. Organisation here does not mean only
structure but includes aspects of interactions between people and machines in
achieving set organizational goals.
It is said that successes of any person or
organisation depends largely on information available to a human person and the
constant modification of modern communication equipment that is fully up-dated
with modern information.
This ascertain brings us to the purpose of an
office which includes the following:
Administration, clerical work, money handling information communication
systems which is an embodiment of secretarial operations. Office as a mini-social system according to
farber and Barr 1979 plays important roles in defining responsibilities. For the aforementioned reasons the secretary
must be available to organize and run the office completely. Here the secretary is seen as an executive
assistant who has a mastery of
office/organizational skills. She has to be familiar with the manipulation
of the modern communication equipment which is made to enhance his/her
performance.
Office automation provides increased
productivity through improved access to data, faster responses to customer
demands and faster decision makings. The
invention of modern office equipment were necessitated as a result of the
growth in large scale enterprises and also as a technological break
through. The office therefore relies
much on sophisticated office equipment in order to cope with the ever-increasing
activities in the organizations.
Like in Nigeria Breweries Plc. Which is one
of the largest quoted company in Nigeria
stock market has successive
secretarial functions. This
company started in Nigeria in 1946 producing star larger and has witnessed a
lot of human and technological transformations.
In their policies to keep a
healthy work force in personnel and machines they have taken their
secretarial operations to greater heights.
This they were able to achieve through the introduction of any equipment that will
enhance the job of their secretaries and also customer service
satisfaction. Nigeria Breweries believe in breaking into new
areas. They contend so much with the
tomorrow of their business.
Strategically, actions, planning and implementation to ensure that
tomorrow is achieved. Nigerian breweries
plc. is futuristic in their business approach made possible by the able and
vision driven leadership of their past and immediate Directors/ Chief executives that pilots the affairs of the business in
conjunction with Heineken international.
Recently a multi-billion Naira ultra modern brewery has been cited in
Enugu state with the slogan that it is a world class investment that can
complete with another out-fit in any part of the world is modern communication
and production and delivery equipment.
The introduction of modern office equipment in Nigerian Breweries plc
mainly the computer in every office of the company also shows that the
secretarial performance goes with the acquisition of these modern equipments.
It seems however, that although the higher
levels of management might not make much direct use of modern office technology
the secretary will. This office
automation for the secretarial is in providing the secretary with a system that
meets the real need identified as being important rather than the ones of
typing and stenography that are thoughts to be important. As against the traditional office the modern
office has a lot of activities to perform with the aid of modern equipment.
Nowadays, un-countable manufacturing
industries have installed these equipments and the secretaries are present to
manipulate them in discharging their duties efficiently and effectively.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The importance of efficiency in job
performance can not be over- emphasized.
A case for the pursuit of increased efficiency/productivity can be made
simply by looking at the categories of office work, the size of the size of the
office work force and the impact of mechanization.
The secretarial profession have witnessed a
tremendous change in terms of technological advancement. Modern office equipment has taken the toll
of events with the growing rate of scientific and technology which are used in
manufacturing industries to facilitate office work and reduce labour
costs. They include: electronic typewriters, fax machines,
telephone, computers, dictating machines and recording machines etc.
1.3
THE OBJECTIVE OR PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Therefore the purpose of this study is to
identify the impact of modern office equipment on the job performances of
secretaries in NB Plc – Enugu.
1. The extent the modern office
equipment enhances or has enhanced the job performance of secretaries in the
discharge of her duties in NB-P Enugu.
2.
The accuracy of work
done using these equipments.
3. The quantity of time spent or
needed to perform a task using these equipments.
4. The reduction of cost brought
about by the installation of these equipment
5. The job satisfaction the
secretary derives from the use of these equipment in performing her duties.
6. The job security of
secretaries with the acquisition of these modern office communication equipment
1:4
DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This
study is limited only to NB Plc –
Enugu and other manufacturing industries in Enugu state and seek to find out
the effect of modern office equipment on the job performances of secretaries in
manufacturing industries. The category
of people to be studies in NB plc Enugu are:
1. Designated employed
secretaries
2. Clerks whose function has been
enveloped by modern office equipment
3. Managers
4. Operatives.
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions were designed by the
researcher to enable her reach conclusions such as:
i.
How far as the modern office equipment enhanced efficiency in
secretarial duties in manufacturing industries especially in NB plc-Enugu?
ii.
To what extent has the use of these equipment assisted the secretary in
the discharge of her duties?
iii.
How accurate and qualitative is the work done using these equipment in
manufacturing industries.
iv. What are the problems the secretaries
encounters in the use of these modern office equipment.
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will be of great value to the
professional secretaries and society in general as well as manufacturing firms
like NB Plc – Enugu. The knowledge
exerted from the study will be beneficial to secretaries in the discharge of
their duties and will definitely encourage new innovations in office automation
and information technology on the part of the implementer