ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to
investigate the effect of modern technology on the
secretarial profession in governmental parastatals. The research employed a survey
method of research where data were gathered through primary means with the use
of a well-structured questionnaire. The gather gathered were presented on
tables using the simple percentages.
From the data collected, the researcher was able to
identify the effects of modern technology in the productivity of
secretaries. It was revealed that modern
aids the secretary to a large extent in discharging of his/her duties. In the same vein, majority of the respondents
were of the view that introduction of modern office automation lead to training
and retraining of secretaries.
In summation, the finding of this research work was that
technology has had a tremendous effects on the jobs of today secretary. It was also deduced that technology has
helped raised the productivity of secretaries in the recent years based on the
findings, the researcher concluded that technology cannot endanger the further
prospect of flexible secretary.
Among the recommendations proffered that student should be
trained practically with most of these office automation. Organization have the duty to send
secretaries on new courses or refresher course from time to time. And they should acquire modern technologies
to improve the productivity of their secretaries.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
OF STUDY
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1.5 SCOPE
OF STUDY
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
1.7
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 CONCEPT
MODERN TECHNOLOGY
2.1 FUNCTION
OF THE MODERN OFFICE
2.3 SECRETARIAL FUNCTIONS IN GOVERNMENT
PARASTATALS
2.5 TYPES OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES USED BY THE
SECRETARIES IN THEIR PROFESSION
2.6 THE EFFECT OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY ON THE
SECRETARIAL PROFESSION
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 AREA
OF STUDY
3.3 POPULATION
3.4 SAMPLING
TECHNIQUE
3.5. METHOD
OF COLLECTING DATA
3.6 VALIDATION
OF INSTRUMENT
3.7 ADMINISTRATION
OF INSTRUMENT
3.8 DATA
ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE
3.9 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Analysis
of research Questions
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1
Summary
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
RECOMMENDATION
5.4
SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
5.5
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
REFERENCES
APPENDIX: QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
By the mid 20th Century, humans had
achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the atmosphere of the
earth for the first time and explore space. According to Merriam-Webster (2007)
technology is making usage and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques,
crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or
perform a specific function. The word technology comes from Greek, the term can
either be applied generally or to specific areas: example include construction
technology and information technology.
Technology has affected society and its surroundings
in a number of ways. In many societies, technology has helped develop more
advanced economies (including today’s global economy) and has allowed the rise
of a leisure class. Many technological processes product unwanted by-products:
known as pollution and deplete natural resources, the determinants of the earth
and its environment. Various implementations of technologies influences the
value of a society and news technology often rises new ethical questions
examples include the rise of efficiency in term of human productivity, a term
originally approved to machines and the challenge of traditional norms.
According to Franklin Ursula (1952) Traditionally, new
technology has been concerned with the construction of machines, structures,
and tools on a relatively large scale. The development of materials for
building bridges or sky scrapers is an example of this, as is the development
of the internal construction engine and the nuclear reactor. While such
activities involve all the sciences, from chemistry to nuclear physics, the overriding
goal has been the same to improve the human condition by finding better ways to
deal with the macroscopic world.
Jaulius Adama’s (1999) in his views says: Since world
War II, the focus of technological activities has undergone a major change
while the old activities are still pursued, they have largely superseded by
applications of technology at the microscopic level instead of building
large-scale structures and machines modern-day technology tends to concentrate
on finding improved ways to transfer information and to develop new materials
by studying the way atoms come together. The silicon clip and micro-electronics
typing the new technological trend, as does the blossoming of genetic
engineering. The trend can be expected to continue into the fore seeable
future.
With the changing world of technology this day, it is
important to say that modern technology has come to stay, and it plays
significant role in the improvement of the secretary’s job which in turns
enhances productivity in all aspect.
However Eric Schalzbery (2004) in his views says that
with the high rate of technological development in this “global village” era,
the secretary has come to terms with the reality of having her job greatly
enriched and complete business activities going on in modern office. The
secretary plays important role in ensuring the proper utilization of these
machines for greater productivity.
In the past, most office work had been carried out
manually although them the volume of office work had been small and there was
less sophistication in the industrial art, hence there was no significant
demand for modern technology. But today, when one looks at the basic tasks. In
an office, whether it be writing, calculating, filling, sorting or analysis, it
is found that office machines can be used to do the job better and faster which
leads to great achievements and professionalism in the field. There has never
been greater need for efficiency in business than there is today. All kinds of
businesses. Must employ modern methods in their offices. The raw material of an
office is information, and the responsibility of an office is lit that of a
clearing house, receiving and sending out information, processing storing facts
in various forms. Therefore, the ever increasing size of business organizations
has increased the development of new techniques in office management. Unlike in
the past, where the secretary made use of old model manual typewriter that does
not enhance efficient. Since the secretary is a medium through which the
organization actions and policies are conveyed to the public. In readable and disenable
form, it is wise that she is exposed to office machines and understand their
proper usage so that she can efficiently carryout the routine job of the
office. By so doing the organization concern can benefit highly form the
services of the secretary.
The secretary is part of the management team since she
is completely involved in the affairs of the office and in making and
implementation of business plans. She deals with letter drafting and typing, filing
processing and storing of information as well as disseminating information.
With the office automation such as electronic typewriter Word process,
computer, telephone, fax machine, internet, e-mail, photocopier and calculating
machines at her disposal, her job is sure to progress swiftly and a boost to
attaining productivity in the organization where she works.
1.2 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEM
Even though modern technology is regarded as important
and of high value in ensuring quality work output in an office, as well as
bringing about productivity. It is equally believed that these machines can
cause job. Displacement. This is the fear that many employees suffer from when
new machines are being purchased for use by their organization. The machines
are cost effective. Some organizations do not really apply the use of some of
the modern machines and this lead to poor performance, this is because they
seem not to attach great importance to these machines and most secretaries are
ignorant of their uses.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE
STUDY
The
study intend to achieve the following:
a. To
examine the concept of modern technology and its effect on the secretary’s
profession.
b. To
examine whether modern technology causes job displacement of secretaries in
organizations.
c. To
determine whether the secretaries utilize the office machines for productivity
in every aspect.
d. To
determine whether the modern machines enhances the secretary’s efficiency.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
Based on the topic, the effect of modern technology on
the secretarial profession in government parastatals, this study has drawn up
the following research questions:
a. What
effect do modern technology have on the secretary’s job in an organization.?
b. How
has these modern machines caused job displacement of secretaries in organization’s
today?
c. How
well do secretaries utilize the office machines for productivity in their
places of work?
d. Does
modern machine enhance the secretary’s efficiency, performance and
productivity.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
The study covers all aspect relating to the effect of
modern technology on secretarial profession such as the concept of modern
technology, functions of modern office, secretarial function in government
parastals, types of modern technologies used by secretaries in their
profession, effect of modern technology on secretary performance.
This also talks on how this variables can be put
together to enhance productivity in all aspect most significantly in
secretarial profession.
1.8
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The research believes that this study will be of
immense benefit to the following categories of people.
a. Secretaries: This study will be useful to
practicing secretaries. It will help broaden their knowledge about modern
machines because they are the people who actually make most use of these
machines in the offices, it will help motivate them in wanting to make use of
the modern machines.
b. Employers of labour: This study will
enable employers of labour to have more knowledge about the modern machines and
will give them a focus in acquiring these machines for use by their secretaries
for greater productivity in their business activities..
c. Future Researchers: This study will
serve as a guide to the future researchers who will need to study and expand on
the same topic. It will serve as data or source of information.
d. Employees: This study will enable the employees
to make use of the modern machines to communicate smoothly. Two people can chat
via a computer when they are both connected. It brings secretaries all over the
world into contact with each other.
1.7 DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Modern machines: These refers to the usage and knowledge
of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organizing in
order to solve a problem or perform a specific function.
Productivity: This is the ability to produce
things of economic value. The art of being fruitful.
Manually: Work done with high degree of human
labour
Efficiency: The ability to perform duties well
to produce the desired or satisfactory result.
Sophistication: Having to do things with latest
improvement and refinements e.g modern machines.
Implementation: To carry out a plan into action.
Displacement: To put a person out of his usual
position and be replaced by a machine.
Policies: Plan of action made by business / company
to meet aims and objectives.
Secretary: An individual employed to keep the
records of the meetings of an organizations and to write or answer letters on
this behalf.
Professional secretary: A person employed to be in charge of
the clerical, organizational and administrative functions of the organization
Government: A political authority who have the
power to make and enforce laws for a country or area.
Government Parastatals: A group of people established to
perform a function usually associated with a government and under its direct
control.
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