Project Materials

STUDY OF THE ROLE AND PERFORMANCE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROFESSIONAL SECRETARIES IN SELECTED GOVERNMENT METROPOLIS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study 

It is well-known in this world that different professions, depending on their effectiveness, have distinct characteristics that set them apart from one another. The common person’s conception of a profession is based on the social value and specifics of the work that professionals in that field do.

For this reason, the general consensus holds that, prior to the industrial revolution, there were only two professions: medicine and law. Secretarial work is essential to any organization’s success and growth, but in the past it was not given the same respect as medical and legal fields.

Expertise, training, education, and moral behaviour are essential in the secretarial profession. Research conducted by Carr-Saunders (1964) confirmed the declining social status of secretaries during that time, when the question of whether secretaries should be more honoured to be consulted when decisions were being made regarding their service conditions arose.

People used to see secretaries as more of a servant then. Back when secretarial work was still in its infancy, students at commercial institutions were sometimes mistaken for typists but officially worked as secretaries. The training of secretaries, however, shifted to incorporate new methods and tools with the arrival of the industrial revolution.

According to Carr-Saunders (1964), significant changes in education are to blame for the recent boom in the secretarial profession, which occurred practically during our own lifetimes.

The secretarial profession in modern-day Nigeria stands out among all others due to the significant impact it has on a country’s economic, social, and political development. There is an urgent need for it, and it is often thought of as a tool for national growth.

Nonetheless, the overarching goal of this study is to identify the critical success factors that secretaries must overcome in order to maintain their careers and make a positive impact on society.

Secretary success in her profession. Now that Nigeria has joined the ranks of the fully digitalised European nations, they are more important than ever.

Companies and Ministries require the services of competent personnel like the secretaries to help them achieve their organizational goals. As a result the image of secretaries is coming to obtain a great credit in this are and has aided the Nigerian youth to pick interest in secretarial course which labour market.

The efficiency and proficiency of these secretaries depend heavily on the degree of grooming they obtained from their various schools and instillation of higher leaning.

1.2 STAEMENT OF PROBLEM

Since our institution of higher learning are determined towards producing adequate manpower capable of undert5aking secretarial jobs in today’s ministering these secretaries who make organization objective releasable must have to carry out some personal activities meant for and therefore result in the perfection of their performance. The difficulty presently is what hinder the professional growth of the secretarial profession are yet know.

1.3 PUROSE OF THE STUDY

The main aims of this study are:

1. To find out the type of professional growth activities that secretaries engage in to increase their professional effectiveness and efficiency.

2. To discover out how often these secretaries engage in such behaviours.

3. To find out who organization and finances these operations.

4. Determine whether these secretaries within the vicinity of the study are satisfied with the professional growth activities which they have at one time or the other involved.

5. Determine alternate proposals about proper growth of these secretaries.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of the study will serve to expose the secretaries and to the type of performance that they would engage in for their professional development. It will be of great value to selected government parastatal notably in Enugu Metropolis to determine the type of professional development activities they would engage their secretaries in. At last, it will be easier to conduct studies on linked subjects.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How may secretaries improve their performance and effectiveness through professional growth activities?

2. How frequently are you involved in activities that enhance your professional performance?

Who plans and pays for these events?

3. In what ways are these professional expectations impacting your daily life?

4. When it comes to effective professional progress, what challenges do secretaries face?

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

A question or matter of this complexity has been put forward for investigation or contemplation.

PROFESSION: This is a sort of higher-level, non-manual work that requires both subjective and objective evaluations of performance, a clearly defined field of study or concern, and the provision of a specific service acquired through formal education and training.

PROFESSIONALISM: The traits, goals, actions, and character traits that are typical of a particular occupation.

EFFECTIVENESS: Things that are successful.