THE
EFFECT OF MODERN OFFICE AUTOMATION ON
THE PRODUCTIVITY OF SECRETARIES IN GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS IN ENUGU STATE.
(A
CASE STUDY OF UNTH, ENUGU)
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Work was the major activities of man before the industrial
revolution, that was the period marked with mechanization of work, presently
computed is representing mechanization thereby turning the work into automation.
The 21st
century has witnessed a lot of advancement both n science and technology. This advancement has been growing rapidly
since the end of the second world war both in manufacturing, aviation,
medicine, engineering, finance and administration, such advances has affected
adversely in all aspects of life. These
technological advancement includes the modern office automation which we use in
our day to day activities in the business organizations.
However modern
automation in all works of life does not exempt secretarial productivity. The required unchanged while the procedure
continues to change as more and more sophisticated machines are introduced in
the office.
The impact
brought about by the invention of the new office machines are immeasurable many
of those office automation out-ways the secretaries performance due to their
effectiveness, speed and time saving.
The introduction of most office automation might go as far as costing
secretaries their jobs as a result of limited numbers being employed.
The fear of
cost of craftsmanship as new product (automation) replaces the old ones” becomes the issue at stake. Consequently, the issue of bearing extra cost
in training and retraining secretaries to get accustomed with these inventions
becomes a problem.
These and many
other reasons motivated the researchers into investigating and ascertaining how
true these statement are with regards to the effect of modern office automation
to the productivity of secretaries in Government parastatals such as university of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The world is
undergoing a rapid change due to the innovation of modern automation as we are
the new millennium and the evolution continues and government in Enugu state, in order to
cope with the modern age needs to know the effects of all these automated
machines.
What are the
effects of these changes on the productivity of secretaries in the office, hr
ability to cope, her job security, her relevance to the office work for which she
is employed and moreover, the training
which is to prepare her to meet the challenges of her over-changing work
environment.
For Government
parastatals to equip their office with modern automation they need enough
capital to import these machines since they are not produced in Nigeria.
Modern office
automation as we know needs expertise as regards to repair and procurement of
spare marts.
Some of these
automated machines need suitable environment like air-conditioned room,
isolated pace and wide space. For government parastatals, University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital. (UNTH) Enugu
to acquire these equipment, they will have to re-adjust their environment
to suit the new machines that is to
acquired.
This research,
using university
of Nigeria teaching
Hospital (UNTH) Enugu
is aimed at finding answers to these questions.
1.
What are the effects of modern office automation on the
productivity of secretaries in UNTH, Enugu?
2.
What are the problems secretaries’ encounters in suing those
automation?
3.
What type of modern office automation used in our offices
today?
4.
What are the recommendations on how the secretaries can make
maximal use of this modern office automation? Of modern office automation.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The research is carried out in the sense that its findings
will reassure the secretaries who think their skill is no longer useful in the
office as a result of the introduction of new modern automation. This ought to
be done in order to boost their morale and increaser their productivity as well.
It will also be useful to both practicing secretaries and
secretaries to be, not to fear about the future prospect of their profession,
the study will also be very handy to
various institutions where secretaries are trained to design healthy training
programmes for secretaries sin schools so that experience gained will be useful in the world of work if all the
study will be immensely important to the general public especially the
government parastatals to appreciate the best way to make sue of automation
available to them.
1.5 DELIMINATIONS OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is based on the university of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu
Only, where Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu
State, Nigeria
1.6
RESEARCH QUESITONS
The following questions were formulated
1.
What are the effects of modern automation on the productivity
of secretaries?
2.
What are the problems secretaries encounter in suing those
automation?
3.
How far are the type of modern automation used in our offices
today?
4.
What are your recommendations on how to make maximal us of
modern office automation.
1.7
DEFINITION OF TERMS
The following terms used in presenting report of this study
are explained below:-
OFFICE:- Office is used in this work as a place where business
activities are carried out. It can also
be a room or building where clerical
processes or duties are carried out.
2.
MODERN:- Any think of present or recent but Oxford
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary says that modern is up to data, methods and ideas
of doing things.
3.
AUTOMATION:- Automation is used in this work as
automatic equipment to do works which are previously done by man manually.
4. SECRETARY – popular definitions of
secretary are “An office worker who combines the competencies of stenographer,
clerical officer, receptionist and more, talents and attitude” (Anyachuba,
1991) An assistant to an Executive possessing mastery of office skills and
ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, who displays
initiative, exercises judgment and makes decision within the scope of her
authority. (The international Association of Administration Professionals
USA).
Consequently, a secretary is said to
be one who exercise initiative and take decision within the scope of her
assigned authority.
5. PRODUCTIVITY – Oxford mini-reference
Dictionary explained productivity used in this work as bringing forth in large
quantity; nothing more powerful promotes the efficiency of labour that an
abundance of productivity.
6. GOVERNMENT PARASTALS – these are establishment
owned by government like NEPA NITEL, etc.
7. U.N.T.H.ENUGU-University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital. This is federal
establishment, Health institution provided by the government for teaching and
training of students like medical students, Nurses both for advanced courses in
health and also for treatment of ailment of all sorts. And it is the best throughout the federation.