EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON OFFICE SERVICES IN N IGERIA

EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON OFFICE SERVICES IN N IGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Ironically, we have selected “The Effect Of Globalisation Of Information Technology On Office Services” as our research theme just as criticism and controversy surrounding the actions of major actors on the international stage are intensifying.

It seems that globalisation stands out the most. Despite its nebulous reputation, globalisation is really a multi-faceted, intricate process that takes numerous shapes and has far-reaching consequences wherever it manifests. In their description of the process, Dele and Robertson used the words “multi-faceted in its operation, massive in its reach and implications and elusive as a concept” (2003:14). The word “globalisation” may be a recent coinage. To be sure, the change it alludes to has been recognised for a long time.

A major event in Africa at this time was the transatlantic trade that brought people and goods from the Arab world to the American and European continents after first passing via the Sahara.

Another significant expression was the dominance and colonisation of Africa by foreign countries after long-term Islamic and Christian missionary activities throughout the continent.

“Globalisation” in its current and revived meaning is defined by Allen and Thomas as “the forging of a multiplicity of linkages and interconnections between state and societies, which make up the modern world system” (2000:20).

As a result, decisions made in one area can have far-reaching effects on communities and individuals in other, more remote regions of the world; in other words, we are moving closer to living in a giant global village.

According to Ahrens, the idea of globalisation has seen tremendous success in recent years due to the fact that global processes in the areas of communication, economics, transportation of ideas, and religious migration have accelerated to such a degree that many people perceive our planet as contracting (2000:286).

As the globe becomes more interconnected and people are increasingly governed by a global currency, social relations take on characteristics of being somewhat borderless and characterised by a lack of physical boundaries. There are substantial cultural, political, legal, and military aspects to globalisation.

Both the tools and the methods used to carry out secretarial duties have been superseded by information technology. Over the next decade, executive and managerial work stations will be equipped with electronic technology in an effort to eliminate paper costs and improve the timeliness and usability of information (Iredia, 2002).

The use of computers and other forms of electronic communication is known as information technology, or simply IT. Carroll states that “the disciplines encompassing computer system, telecommunication networks and multi media applications” comprise information technology.

Innovations in IT use and thought are, without a doubt, a byproduct of globalisation. There is widespread agreement that in order to keep up with the pace of globalisation, new, state-and quality-independent channels, networks, and practices of communication are required.

The increasing financial dependency of nations around the globe is the narrow definition of globalisation, according to Kevin (2001:116). Mark (2003:11) defines office services as “work done by people who work in an office setting,” including but not limited to: design, transcription, editing documents, answering phones, and message handling.

Statement Of The Problem

The consequences of IT globalisation on office service are the primary subject of this study. Businesses, governments, and nonprofits in Nigeria are falling behind the times because they aren’t adopting new technologies fast enough.

Despite receiving office equipment, office service providers are not taught to utilise it effectively or to fulfil their tasks with modern information technology. As a result, organisations are unable to meet their needs.

Additionally, not all businesses are able to easily adapt to new IT trends. There are a lot of new unknowns because of the ways in which information technology is changing people’s lives and the economy.

Organisations and individuals alike must constantly adjust to changing external conditions and internal demands, which may be a challenging and intricate process.

On the other hand, secretaries worry about losing their jobs as a result of the information technology (IT) boom, the introduction of complicated new equipment into the system, changes to secretarial abilities and skills, and even changes to their work description.

Purpose Of The Study

The purpose of this research is to determine how office services have been impacted by the globalisation of IT. The target audience for this study is:

Determine how the expansion of global information networks has altered the nature of administrative support services

In order to ascertain the potential effects of IT globalisation on administrative services

In order to learn how globalisation has affected efficiency in the workplace.

The goal is to learn about the challenges that businesses face while trying to provide office services through the use of IT.

Research Questions

In the workplace, how has globalisation changed things?

How does globalisation impact the evolution of secretarial careers?

Is the future of office services impacted by the globalisation of IT?

In the course of using IT for office delivery, what challenges have been encountered?

How can these issues be most effectively addressed?

The Importance of the Research

Those in the following groups will gain from the study: The Federal School of Namoda Kaura Individuals pursuing degrees in the IT sector Regulatory bodies: One further goal of this research is to persuade the government to use more globalisation and IT in the way information flows between different levels of staff. Direct the researchers’ attention to potential areas for further research.

Limitations of the Study

Kaura Namoda, an organisation in Zamfara State, is the only one this study is limited to. Both employers and employees will be asked to fill out questionnaires in order to gather information.

Limitations

The result of this study may be altered by variable beyond the control of the researcher. A measure of how up-to-date and accurate the responses are on respondents’ attitudes towards career advancement. How well things turn out depends on what happens in the field.

A brief history of The Federal Polytechnic Kaurada

The Federal School of Deed No. 33 of July 25, 1976, as amended in 1985, established seven federal polytechnics, one of which is Kaura Namoda. According to the decree, the polytechnic’s mandate is to meet the following needs: to educate and train individuals in the fields of technology, applied science, commerce, and management; to meet the education needs of the Nigerian government; and to offer both full- and part-time courses in these areas.

The purpose of the polytechnic is to prepare for new functions that may be provided by the council’s thoughts. Following its establishment in February 1985 under the leadership of Alhaji Jafaru B. Ango, the first Rector of the federal polytechnic Kaura Namoda, the following academic programs were established in 1985:

Accountancy, Business Administration, Secretary Studies, Architectural Technology, Building Technology, and Quantity Surveying. All of these programs were approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The school provides loans to employees and conducts employability screenings for all staff members. Training programs at these institutions focus on students at the national diploma and advanced national diploma levels, with many more departments to follow.