CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The prospects of secretaries have been giving a lot of concerns to intending student of secretarial administration and many other segments of the society especially those in secretarial field.

The word secretary coined from latin word secretes’ which  literally means a secret; this definition shows more or one of the function of secretary. (Okafor 1987).

Prospect on the other hand according to Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary of the English Language is defined as the chances of being successful.

Harding (1988) define secretary as someone holding a very responsible position within an organization, who provide a full range of management support which cells upon variety of skills and ability that would  not be pre-requisites of office generally.

Horny (1996) also defines a secretary as an employee in office who deals with correspondence keeps records, makes arrangement and appointment for a particular member of staff.

Ofuru (1997) sees secretaries as the image makers, who combine both official and one-official duties for overall success of their bosses as well as the organization where the work.

The   American secretarial Association defines a secretary in the most acceptable way as an assistant to an executive, possessing mastery of office skills and ability to assume responsibility initiative, exercise judgement and makes decision within the scope of his authority.

With the above definitions, in mind one can easily see the need for a secretary in any organization or institution be it secondary or tertiary cannot be over emphasized.

A secretary is a major comminuting link between the executive and his association the office staff and the public. He/she is the life wire of that organization.

As a result of this important linking position, a secretary can display vital roles in helping to create and maintain the smooth running of business organization 

For a secretary to perform his/her to undergone some educational studies and obtain the basic office knowledge and skills Days  are gone when any person that works in an office is being regarded as a secretary.

However, for one to quality as a secretary one must have taken courses in shorthand, typewriting, office practice and secretarial duties and must be computer literate for easy adaptation in modern office challenges.   

A close look at some selected higher institution like the institute of management and technology Enugu, Federal polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, federal college of Education current problems and  prospects of secretaries.

Some of these problems include the following:

i.                   poor placement of their sartorial staff

ii.                 lack of good working environment

iii.              Lack of modern office equipment like computers printers modern electric typewriter etc.

iv.              Lack of attending external course or seminars or even in-house training.

v.                 In a situation where the above mentioned facilities are lacking the advancement of  the secretaries both in academics and otherwise will be a mirage.

THE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY I.M.T ENUGU. 

The institute of management and technology Enugu was established in the year 1972 and was known ass institute of public Administration then east central state (ECS) . it was later re-named institute of management  and Technology in 1976 by then old Anambra state Government. The institution is now owned by Enugu state government after the creation of Enugu state form the old Anambra  state. A survey shows that the institution has produced many and famous professional who have excelled in their endeavors.

Since its inception and it is still leading in academic in Nigeria as far as polytechnic education is concerned in spilt of all constraints 

Various higher institutions these days have realized and on their stressed on the impact of modern technology on their secretaries.

The service of secretaries are utilized by various organization and institutions. Secretaries work directly with management of those organization as supporting staff and they help in realizing effectively the missions and objectives of the organizations.

In view of all these facts, the problems and prospects of the secretaries in these higher institutions are critically investigated in this study.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The state of a secretary in the civil service has been a vexed issue for quite some time. While some think of the secretary as a mere servant of the boss while others regard her as another boss. While she perform every work in her office her position is still relegated to the ground thus lead the research to investigate these factors that prospects secretaries in office administration and management.

However, some of the problems are as follows:

1.    Neglect and lack of adequate motivation of secretaries on their job.

2.    Poor perception of secretaries as never – do – wells by the society.

3.    Lack of modern office equipment has handicapped the high performance of the secretary.

It has been a problem to understand the nature of bosses in organization as the role of secretaries.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

1.   To find out the extent of neglect and lack of motivation of secretary on the job.

2.   To determine the extent of poor perception of secretaries as never do  wells in the society.

3.   To find out extent lack of modern office equipment has handicapped the high performance of the secretary.

4.   To  find out the extent of problem to understand nature of bosses in organization.

1.4     SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is limited to the institute of management and technology (IMT), Enugu. 

IMT is one of the oldest polytechnic in the eastern part of Nigeria.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

To guide this study, four (4) research question were formulated as shown below:

1.    To what extent are the secretaries motivated to enhance high performance on the job?

2.    To what extent do the poor perception of secretaries as never do well is in the society?

3     To what extent do lack of modern office equipment handicapped the high performance of the secretaries?

4     To what extent do the type of boss and leadership style affect the job of secretaries?

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant for the following reason:

1.   It is hoped that the suggestion from this study will help the masses have more knowledge on what secretarial profession is all about.

2.   The result of this work will help in exposing the implication of secretarial profession so that most young men and woman will realize the good prospect of taking to the profession

3.   The study will also expose to the heads of organization and establishment that a highly talented secretary is a professional rather than a strong or an appendage to the management profession. This will enable an improved recognize their interdependent on one another, and thus form a formidable management team for management efficiency.

4.   The study will also help secretaries to play down the misconception and stereotyped view of their professions to take pride in their professions deserves, while they struggle for profession.

5.   Finally, it may serve as a work of reference to future researchers in the future researchers in the area.