Project Materials

MODERN OFFICE EQUIPMENT USED BY OFFICE MANAGERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ESTABLISHMENT WITH IMPLICATION ON SECRETARIAL TRAINING

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to identify the pieces of office equipment that private sector managers utilise, with an eye towards informing secretarial education. Today, managers in all kinds of companies can take advantage of a wide range of newly developed office equipment. It is commonly acknowledged that the utilisation of office technology, including computers, communication devices, reprographic tools, and compugraphic software, has made the execution of many office duties much easier and more feasible. All businesses and government agencies rely on information as their foundation, making the aforementioned office equipment essential. Workflow in the office will suffer unless supervisors receive training on how to use these machines. Office managers are the ones who turn the will of the private sector and the government establishment, so it stands to reason that they should be well-versed in these tools. modern office equipment, secretarial training, private sector, office managers, contemporary office space

At long last, the research will pave the way for the private sector’s adoption of cutting-edge office equipment and the improvement of managerial abilities.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study 

Clearing the home, receiving and sending out information, processing, and storing facts of various types are among the primary responsibilities of the office, which is also responsible for receiving information (Stonwell, 1976). In today’s technologically advanced private sector, secretarial functions mostly revolve around receiving, processing, distributing, and communicating.

Modern office equipment utilised by private sector establishments’ office managers is the focus of this study, which also seeks to analyse its implications for secretarial training.

To put it simply, modern office equipment is any set of tools that facilitates the execution of routine office tasks that would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish without them.

Nwosu (1989) makes this claim. It is undeniable that the private sector has made significant improvements to several forms of contemporary office equipment. As a result of a variety of modern office technology, secretarial training has improved, and workers have been well-trained and have gained more knowledge and abilities.

It is imperative that secretarial education undergo a complete overhaul with the advent of state-of-the-art office equipment. Managers of such facilities should be adequately prepared to operate and manipulate this machinery in the course of their many critical responsibilities.

Professionally trained, efficient, and competent secretaries help private sector organisations achieve their goals since office managers are expected to have new abilities in handling technological automation.

Office managers are expected to have strong computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing software, electronic mail (SMS), web browsing, and shorthand and typewriting, according to research by Ighinoba (2000).

Traditional methods of shorthand transcription have also given way to the usage of computers for word processing, thanks to the rise of the telephone, cellular mobile, and secretarial set.

Computers and other office equipment have large amounts of memory, which enables quick recovery of data and changes to computer taxes. It is common for office managers to play a pivotal role and delegate some responsibilities to those who are proficient in tax processing, data communication, and computers.

As a result of technical advancement, the private sector institution has experienced numerous changes. Office equipment is widely employed by industries, particularly sophisticated technology, and is claimed to be a vital part of many people’s everyday lives in Nigeria today (Sanderson, 1983).

In order to survive in their roles as the hub of information management—tasked with ensuring that executives have access to complete, accurate, and timely data—office managers are required to demonstrate proficiency in computer literacy as part of their training. This is because executives rely on office managers to make sound management decisions.

Therefore, it is imperative that office managers have extensive training in the use of various office equipment and computer literacy. It goes without saying that managers who are able to operate and properly program as well as transmit taxes over telephone lines are highly qualified.

According to the hypothesis put forth by Okoye (1992), these appropriate facilities should be seen as instructional instruments necessary for the training of competent managers.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

There is a lack of exposure for trainee-managers in training institutions to real-world situations that are comparable to those in the private sector. According to Oborgu (1999), the issue may lie with the fact that the professors of trainee managers have failed to understand everything that is necessary to achieve their goals.

In addition, the government and policymakers are unwilling to provide educators with the resources they need to adequately educate future managers. According to Njoku (2000), trainee-managers should have experience with the same tools they’ll be using in their future jobs.

The problem may stem, in part, from a failure to adequately inform and follow up on office equipment modifications. Therefore, the study’s primary objective is to collect empirical data on the types of office equipment used by private sector establishments in Owerri, Imo state. This data will have implications for management training.

1.3 The Purpose Of The Study

In particular, the study will accomplish the following goals, the primary purpose of which is to examine the types of contemporary office equipment utilised by office managers in private sector establishments.

The goal is to catalogue the state-of-the-art gear that business executives utilise in the office.

The goal is to catalogue the state-of-the-art communication tools utilised by business sector executives.

Determine whether the supervisors are competent in using contemporary office machinery.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated from an examination of office equipment utilised by office managers in Owerri’s private sector establishments.

In private sector establishments, what kinds of modern office equipment are utilised by managers of administrative staff?

What kinds of cutting-edge communication tools are utilised by businesses in the private sector?

Is it possible for managers in the private sector to run such cutting-edge machinery?

1.5 The Significance of the Study

So far, no significant effort has been undertaken to determine the level of functioning office equipment utilised by private sector establishments’ office managers.

The private sectors will benefit from this study’s findings because they will reveal opportunities to them. In addition, the findings will shed light on the expectations of private offices and sectors when it comes to exceptional office abilities and performance, as well as the demand for such skills among office managers.

Because the results will allow them to assess their course offerings and modernise their facilities, the training institutions that create office managers will also benefit from this research.

1.6 The scope of the study

Only businesses in Owerri’s private sector were included for this study, and its scope is confined to the availability of office and communication equipment, the likelihood that office managers will use it, and the significance and adequacy of this equipment. He will conduct research on the Imo State by reviewing relevant journals, textbooks, articles, and literature.