The Impact Of Modern Office Soft Skills Of Office Technology And Management Students On Job Performance In Selected Organization In Oyigbo Local Government Of Rivers State
ABSTRACT
This study was on the impact of modern office soft skills of office technology and management students on job performance in shell petroleum development company. The following objectives were assessed: To ascertain job performance of office technology and management students in shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo LGA, to ascertain whether modern office technology help shell petroleum development company in achieving their objectives and to find out whether students of office technology and management are more skillful with modern office technology than those in other profession in shell petroleum development company. It is difficult to think of a situation where businesses can do well without the use of modern office technology, in particular, items like computers and telephones. It is extremely difficult to determine if businesses depend on technology or if technology creates business opportunities. Modern office technology is correlated with positive change in management performance. There is a strong correlation between the right use of office technologies and positive change in management performance. It is recommended that office managers still procure modern office technology to increase performance. The challenge is to harness this newly emerging technology for the benefit of the business
CHAPTERE ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In decades now, fast changes have been taking place in all facets of human life including the office environment. This is as a result of technological advancement. Every office in today’s business world, be it government, industry or other human endeavors, require facts and accurate information for quick decision-making. The office worker, including the secretary even manager in organization, expects certain support from the organization into which he/she is employed. This support can be technological (machines and equipment) and human. Employing staff from profession of office technology and management will be of advantage.
In offices of past, manager’s dictated memos and letters and secretaries typed them. Most recently, business have developed word processing centers and relied on personal computers and even electronic mail in an effort to lessen the need for secretarial support and make the employee-secretary very productive (Ezoem, 1995; Osuala, 2004)
In today’s organizations one of the things that make organizations unique is the use of modern technological gadgets. Both internal and external forces such as market competition, consumer behaviour, technology and quality management are the drivers of organizational change. In today’s business world, every office requires facts and accurate information for quick decision making (Akpomi and Ordu, 2009). In Modern Office Technology the role of the secretary is crucial in the life or progress of an organization hence, needs some technological and human backing from the work place. The effective performance of the Professional Secretary depends upon the office equipment, knowledge and skills, of Professional Secretary and the employee from office technology and management. The skill level and functioning of the traditional secretary involve greater physical and mental ability. The introduction of modern technologies and programmes has lessened the onerous tasks for the modern secretary. These range from production, reproduction, storage and retrieval among others. The employee from office technology and management will add more advantage to the organizational achievement and they will perform well being their profession
Margaret and Pac (2009) state that for an office to run smoothly, facts and accurate information are necessary for quick decision-making, and modern office technologies can help managers be focused and in contact with their co-workers. It can, therefore, be said that having advanced office technologies can increase a manager’s work performance, because such technologies make work flexible. According to Ndlovu (2009), businesses need to be managed effectively so that they have highly productive employees executing goals aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives. Office technologies play a part in helping businesses meet these strategic objectives. Modern technologies need to be managed effectively, because during their use, a business’s most important information can easily be lost.
In businesses, an effective way to improve productivity is to raise the level of technology. Management support plays a vital role, managers are the key in ensuring that technology is used to benefit the business. Kao et al. (1996) mentioned that technology is more beneficial when supported by good management systems, and that technology has a limited contribution to productivity.
However, these new developments brought by technological challenges require even more knowledge and skills beyond being a professional. To be abreast with the changing times, face the challenges and overcome the old ways of doing things she or he needs training requirements in recent times to help meet organizational objectives. Based on this background the researcher wants to investigate the impact of modern office soft skills of office technology and management students on job performance in selected organization in Oyigbo local government of Rivers state. This study will use shall petroleum development company in Oyigbo local government as a case study
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There are problems encountered despite the benefits of information technology. Even though modern technology is regard as important and of high value in ensuring quality work output in an office as well as bringing about productivity, it is equally believed that these machines can cause job displacement.
The machines are cost effective therefore some organization do not really apply the use of some of the modern machines and this lead to poor performance.
There is however a great loss of job from typing pools (Rackham, 2001). Many workplaces previously manned are fully automated and many jobs are being changed as the new technology is introduced this has however led to reduction of employees including secretarial staff.
This study is therefore aimed at examining how office technology and management students can be more productive in their areas of work and put in place, possible solution that shall give the organization the comfort to hold on without fear of future extinction.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The study will examine the impact of modern office soft skills of office technology and management students on job performance in shell petroleum development company. The specific objectives are;
- To ascertain job performance of office technology and management students in shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo LGA
- To ascertain whether modern office technology help shell petroleum development company in achieving their objectives
- To find out whether students of office technology and management are more skillful with modern office technology than those in other profession in shell petroleum development company
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
- Does students of office technology and management perform well in shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo LGA?
- Does modern office technology help shell petroleum development company in achieving their objectives?
- Do students of office technology and management more skillful with modern office technology than those in other profession in shell petroleum development company?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following have been put forward for testing
H0: There is no significant job performance of office technology and management students in shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo LGA
H1: There is significant job performance of office technology and management students in shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo LGA.
H0: modern office technology does not helps shell petroleum development company in achieving their objectives
H2: modern office technology helps shell petroleum development company in achieving their objectives
H0: students of office technology and management are not more skillful with modern office technology than those in other profession in shell petroleum development company
H3: students of office technology and management more skillful with modern office technology than those in other profession in shell petroleum development company
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will be very significant to students of office technology and management and any organization. The study will give a clear insight on the impact of modern office soft skills of office technology and management students on job performance in shell petroleum development company. The study give insight on the beauty of hiring a professional person in a certain position. The study gives need of using modern office technology in organization. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the impact of modern office soft skills of office technology and management students on job performance in shell petroleum development company. The study will be limited to shell petroleum development company in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The researcher encounters some constraints which limit the scope of the study namely:
The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Job performance An individual’s output in terms of quality and quantity expected from every employee in a particular job
Modern office equipment: Modern, high-quality office equipment makes a huge difference in the productivity of a team as well as how the company is perceived by its customers and the general public.
ICT: Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audiovisual systems, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information
1.10 ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA LIMITED is located in, Nigeria and is part of the Oil & Gas Field Services Industry. SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA LIMITED has 73 employees across all of its locations. There are 5,348 companies in the SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA LIMITED corporate family.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) is the pioneer and leader of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. It has the largest acreage in the country from which it produces some 39 per cent of the nation’s oil. Some 66 per cent of the Nigerian staff members are from the Niger Delta.
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