THE ROLES OF A SECRETARY IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Historically, it has been said that secretaries profession is an old as age itself. The progress of life has recorded many men and women whom have registered their footprints on the sand of time. This has brought about secretaries who recorded their deeds. The word secretary is derived from the Latin word “secretary” meaning “keeper of secretos.”
The earliest records of ancient civilization indicate that scribes were used by the Assyrians as long as the 18th century B.C by the 2nd century B.C scribes had reached professional status and were employed in the libraries of Alexandra to compile materials for Rome’s public libraries, by the 4th century A.D Scribes were used to assist with the business affairs of personal correspondence of those who could not read and write. Most affairs of government also required the services of the scribes, and then called “secretary”.
Towards the end of the 19th century, with the invention of the typewriters and the Gregg proficiency, secretarial work begins to take over duties formally performed by men. They were eager to trade a life in a business office. Although their roles were subservient, their salary meager, the historical impact or these women was revolutionary. They were instrumental in changing the whole character of the business office. Today there are several million secretaries in the United States and all over the world to be precise. Though the majorities are women, many men are now choosing it as their own profession. Secretaries’ titles range from Junior Stenographer to administrative assistant.
Their work range from taking to handling all administrative duties of a large modern business organization, secretaries may work indifferent kinds of places or organizations from small secretary’s office to large communication centers in major titles. They may work for many executives for only one, but their functions is basically the same. Keeping business smoothly though the application of their secretarial skills and abilities.