THE CHANGING ROLE OF SECRETARY AND ITS IMPLICATION ON PRODUCTIVITY

ABSTRACT

The specific aim of this work was to know the changes in the role of the modern secretary and its implication on the productivity secretary, which is run in institutions of higher learning. The population comprised of all secretaries working in selected modern offices in Aba metropolis and the sample was all the secretaries holding National Diploma/Higher National Diploma qualifications in secretarial Administration programme.

An office to office inquiries were made, out of which first handed information were gotten and used for analysis.

The method of office to office inquiries showed that the facilities used in the higher institutions in training the secretary are not adequate while most of them are not in line with the ones available in modern offices, and of course not used by modern secretaries in doing their work.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction

1.1  Background of the study

1.2  Statement of the problem

1.3  purpose of the study

1.4  Significance of the study

CHAPTER TWO

•  Review of related literature

2.1  The classical and modern views of  the Secretary

2.2  The traditional role of the secretary

2.3  The modern role of the secretary

2.4  Secretarial administration programme in institutions

       of higher learning

• Secretarial administration curriculum
  • Summary of literature review

CHAPTER THREE

• Research Methodology

3.1  Design of the study

3.2  Area of the study

3.3  Population of study

3.4  Sample and Sampling Techniques

3.5  Instrument for data collection

3.6  Method for data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

• Presentation and analysis of findings

4.1  Analysis of research question

CHAPTER FIVE

• Summary of Findings, conclusion and

 Recommendations

5.1  Findings

5.2  Conclusion

5.3  Recommendations

5.4  Suggestion of Further Research.

References

       Appendix One Letter of transmitter

       Appendix two Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

Secretary is said to be an important tool in any organization (Azuka and Agomuo, 1993). This statement could be confirmed form the total organization goals. The role o secretary, however, has assumed some changes over the years from traditional role to modern role. The secretary formally was known for performing the traditional role which included typing of documents, taking dictation in shorthand transcribing the dictation materials with the typewriter, and carrying out other clerical work (Austine 1974).

During that period, the training if a secretary was obtained trough commercial or vocational schools, mainly owned by private individuals such establishment  had no certificate examinations, or if they pretended to  have , such in house examination were not recognized by employers, rather students  of such institutes went out on their own to enter for single –subject or composite subject examinations given by recognized examining bodies such as royal society of arts (RSA) the pitman faculty of secretaries, London chambers of commerce ands the like in stages J. II, III – (Amaefula, 1997). The role of secretaries presently. Has been enhanced to meet the requirement of modern business world. The work of a secretary does not end at traditional role as mentioned above but also managerial and administrative role. Thus secretary can now sit in for the personnel manger, administrative/office manager book-keeper, correspondent, organization and  methods manager, public relations  manager, etc which are part of the  modern role of the secretary (Maduabuachi, 1993). This has been made possible by the training she received in the institution of higher learning under secretarial administration programme.

Secretarial administration programme is one of the technical/business education programmes approved by National Board for Technical education (NBTE) to be offered in accredited universities, polytechnics and collages of education in Nigeria. This programme is introduced to ensure effective ad adequate preparation pf prospective secretarial in skills, general business and offices so that on graduation the secretary would have acquired sufficient academic and  professional knowledge.

Giving strong idea to this, the NBTE curriculum and course specification on secretarial administration (1990) states only proficiency in the use of the typewriter and phonographic skills as was the cased in the previous years, but has to acquire a thorough detailed knowledge of office administration and management which can make work only not as a secretary but also as an office manager when occasion demands.