1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Secretarial world is as old as the Beginning of civilization it dates back to the time of Moses in the Old Testament when God dictated the Ten Commandments for Moses to write down on a tabloid for documentation ad reference for the Israelites. God as the boss, Moses as the secretary and the Israelites representing other staff and clients in an organization. (Afedia 2004).
At the early stage the duties of the secretaries involved recording the speeches of the is and high dignitaries and great orators. Most of these recording where done in the kings court in that era, manuscripts were hand written and the work of a secretary was slow, tedious and limited. Although not much was recorded in terms of how secretaries of ancient times performed, the fact remains that they were vital links between their master and the outside world.
The invention of the typewriter in nineteenth century changed the role of the secretary from the scribe to that of an office assistant. Recording and transcribing of the speeches and dictation this becomes only a part of the responsibilities of the secretaries.
The need for increased efficiency in job performance led to the introduction of office automation. The application of technology in the performance of office work. This increased efficiency can only be achieved with continued practice on use of modern office machines and equipment. Since 1900, office practice has gone through several phases due to the growth several phases due to the growth in the size of business enterprises.
In view of this development organization have since modified their training programmes with rapidity to meet the challenges in the business world.
In the past, secretaries were satisfied with the skill acquired in shorthand and type writing. Today, the secretary requires in addition to these skills a knowledge of how to operate modern office machine on order to perform their jobs efficiently. This modern office technology has helped in the daily transactions of business environment.
Modern technology has come as an aid to facilitate the efficiency of the secretary on the job given the expanding nature of work (Ududeka, 2000).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Since the invention of modern office equipment with the help of technology, the job of the secretary has greatly improved the secretary gas graduated from the era of striking the shift key of the manual typewriter to the era of the electric and equipment e.g. word processors, to internet, computers etc.
In the view of the importance of technology to the office, the researchers has deemed it necessary to carry out a research on the topic “The effects of modern technology in the performance of today’s secretaries in organization”.
1.3 Research Questions
With the problems enumerate above, the following research questions are necessary;
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
1) The purpose of this study is to examine the various office machines. So as to ascertain weather they are relevant to secretaries or not.
2) To also examine the adaptation of the of the secretary to modern technology in modern organizations.
3) To identify the handicap of office without modern technological equipment and machines.
1.5 Scope Of The Study
The scope of the study is resyrcited to all secretaries in Etsako West Local Government Secretariat in Auhci. The research shall also cover long offices were modern information technology equipment like the fax , computers, photostaing, electronic typewriters and duplicating machnes, etc are used by the secretaries.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The significance of the study is to examine the importance of information technology to the secretary.
The advent of new information technology have brought about tremendous changes to organizations. The study will intend to create the awareness of the contributions of modern information and technology development to the growth of the office staff with particular refence to the secretary.
1.7 LIMITATIONS
Some limitations were encountered during the course of this project work.
One of these limitation encountered is the aspect that has to do finance. It was not easy getting the fund that n was used to complete this project work.
Another limitation was time he was no free period given to write this project, I was carrying out this our this research work at the same time attending, classes, writing tests doing assignments and preparing for exams.
Another limitation ecountered was the fact that some respondents were not willing to rebder any assiatcne through filling of questionnaires.
Lastly, some materials were not available and this did not make the research work easy.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Technology: It is the scientific knowledge used in practice ways in industry.
Office: Rooms or department where clerical works and special set tasks are carried out.
Secretary: Secretary is a person who is involved in the preparations, presentation and preservation of correspond or communication in out forms.
Dissemination: This is a method of distributing information, ideas or knowledge.
Automation: The use of equipment and machines to do work previously done by hand (manually).