SURVEY INTO THE DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF SHORTHAND TO MODERN SECRETARIES

SURVEY INTO THE DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF SHORTHAND TO MODERN SECRETARIES [A CASE STUDY OF UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC ENUGU]

Code No: 765940

₦5,000.00

ABSTRACT

The degree to which shorthand is used in offices has been of serious concern both to students and tutors in secretarial studies. This study investigated the extent to which secretaries make use of shorthand in their day-to-day office work, whether the extent of usage is proportionate to the effort put in learning the skill and whether employers who want secretaries regard shorthand skill as job requirements.
In order to arrive at a c conclusive decision on the above objectives, the researcher carried out a library research, interviews and questionnaires.
The population of this study consisted of sixty secretaries in three branches of Union Bank Plc in Enugu State drawn from secretaries and executives in the banks. Questionnaires and oral interview were used to collect data.
Statistical tools used are simple average and percentage. When the data was analyzed, it was found that shorthand is not extensively used in offices and that the speeds at which employers dictate is between 80 and 100 w.p.m. It was further discovered that executives insist on shorthand skill as a job requirement for secretaries though they do not use it extensively and would not employ a secretary two has no shorthand skill.
It was recommended that as many secretaries prefer to make use of their shorthand skill in their work, the executive should encourage them by dictating rather than writing out correspondents for them. It was further recommended that as shorthand is still considered a job requirement for secretaries, they should strive hard to master this skill in spite of the difficulties encountered in learning it to enable them meet the needs of their employers.
As executive do not dictate at any speed higher than 100 w.p.m., there is need for secretarial training institutions to step down their shorthand speed requirement from 120w.p.m to 100 w.p.m. to relieve the secretaries of the anxiety of the additional 20 w.p.m.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Office is the management seat of any organization. It is manned by personnel of varying nature. Included in the list of office personnel are secretaries who carry out important secretarial service in our offices.
The national Association International (1978) defined as secretary as â€œan assistance to an executive, possessing mastery of office skills and ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, one who displays and makes decisions within the scope of her authorityâ€.
For a person to merit the title â€œSecretaryâ€, there are certain qualifications he/she must posses not only educationally biut also skills he has to attain. Organizations are becoming more and more achievement oriented and as a result have realized the importance of matching jobs with capable hands in order to achieve efficiency. Each job demands special quality qualifications, skills and characteristics on the part of the performer.
Secretaries strive hard to acquire these skills, which are needed by organizations in their day-to-day activities.
Emphasizing the need to match specific jobs with specific skills, Turner 91972) remarked â€œto prepare for efficiency in the business world, development must come in all areas to knowledge skills, techniques and personal qualitiesâ€. Turner further stressed that â€œthe kind of job we get will depend upon the specific skills we have acquired in schools and how well we use themâ€. Relating this to secretaries, the basic skills necessary for efficient performance to the office are typewriting, shorthand, book-keeping, filing and operating office machine. IT is however, pertinent to note that there is no consensus as to the exact background education a secretary should possess.
Among the hot skills required of a secretary, much emphasis is often laid on shorthand. This can be testified by the numerous newspaper advertisement for the post of secretaries demanding various speeds in shorthand but unfortunately, no research has been carried out to determine how many of these employers make use of this Shorthandâ€ skill and at what level they use it.
In highlighting the importance of skill courses to secretaries (Omeanani 1986) argued that a person cannot be a secretary without attaining acceptance level of proficiency to the core subjects of secretarial training of which shorthand is one of them. What is obtained able to work environment the course curricular of institutions of learning.