Project Materials

SURVEY INTO THE DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF SHORTHAND TO MODERN SECRETARIES (A Case Study Of Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc Enugu)

ABSTRACT

Students and instructors of secretarial studies have expressed grave worry about the prevalence of shorthand in professional settings. Researchers wanted to know how often secretaries use shorthand, if the frequency of usage is related to how much practice secretaries get, and if employers see shorthand proficiency as a necessary qualification for secretarial positions. The researcher used several methods, including library research, interviews, and questionnaires, to reach a final verdict on the points mentioned above.Research participants were sixty secretaries and executives from three different Union Bank Plc branches in the state of Enugu. In order to gather information, questionnaires and oral interviews were utilised. A simple average and a percentage are the statistical tools that are utilised. The data analysis revealed that shorthand is not commonly utilised in offices and that employers dictate at speeds ranging from 80 to 100 w.p.m. In addition, it was found that secretaries must have shorthand skills in order to be employed by executives, even though CEOs rarely use shorthand and would never hire a secretary without this ability. Many secretaries would rather use their shorthand skills on the job, thus it was suggested that the CEO should support this preference by dictating rather than writing out correspondents. Additionally, it was suggested that secretaries should make every effort to acquire shorthand despite the challenges they may face in order to satisfy their employers’ demands, since this talent is still required of them in their jobs. Secretarial schools should reduce its shorthand speed requirement from 120 w.p.m. to 100 w.p.m. to allay the fears of aspiring secretaries, since executives do not dictate at speeds higher than 100 w.p.m.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study 

An organization’s management seat is its office. People of diverse backgrounds work there. Secretaries are a crucial part of our office staff and are therefore included in the category of office personnel. “A secretary is someone who assists an executive, has excellent office skills, can take charge without constant oversight, and acts within her authority,” according to the National Association International (1978).

To be entitled to the title “Secretary,” one must meet specific requirements, both in terms of education and acquired abilities. More and more, companies are focused on results and have come to understand the significance of staffing tasks with competent individuals to maximise productivity.

Performers are required to possess unique qualities, abilities, and traits for each position. Organisations rely on secretaries to carry out their day-to-day tasks, therefore they work hard to obtain these abilities.

According to Turner (1972), “to prepare for efficiency in the business world, development must come in all areas to knowledge, skills, techniques and personal qualities.”

This highlights the importance of matching specific abilities with specific tasks. The exact talents we have learnt in school and our ability to put them to use will determine the type of job we obtain, Turner added.

Typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, filing, and managing office machines are the fundamental abilities required of secretaries for effective office performance.

However, it should be mentioned that there is no agreement on the specific level of education a secretary should have. Shorthand is frequently cited as one of the most desirable abilities in a secretary.

The abundance of ads in the classifieds for secretarial positions attest to this, but no studies have attempted to ascertain the frequency or severity with which these businesses require this “Shorthand” competence.