THE EFFECT OF SOUND EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF OTM GRADUATES TOWARDS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

THE EFFECT OF SOUND EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF OTM GRADUATES TOWARDS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

ABSTRACT

This research work concentrate upon a study into the effect of inadequate equipment in training of Office Technology and Management student in Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro. The design for this study was too sought out some ways of eliminating the problems severally encountered in training of office technologist. The population consist of four hundred and ninety (490). Students, which include ND ND II, and HND II student of OTM department. The method of data analysis was simple percentage and instrument use for data collection was questionnaire various equipment in training of office technology was also examined. The major finding of the study was the discovery of equipment that are on use in the department of OTM and are well accommodated which enhance their maximum performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The indispensable role of information technology forms the bedrock and overall development of any nation.  Based on this, great attention is been given to the need of information technology to secretarial students’ performance in business education.

Of recent, countries now recognized the need for students to be developed and educated in computer programme during the period of their programme in order to be equipped with skills to offer his country, community and society at large.  Thus in order for the goal of Office Technology and Management  in Nigeria to be achieved, such that the personnel produced may contribute immensely to the nation’s development, a well-equipped technological facilities, laboratory or studio must be of great importance to all secretarial students.

The nation’s line and cry for basic skill and sound had given impetus in the national policy on education (2004).  The first area to be given prominence was the search for technological “know – how”, the second was the pressure on the part of the employers of labour as well as the society in general, for the course that prepare students for jobs that would made them self-reliant as stipulated in the National policy on Education (2004).

Since computer courses are being offered at various levels and different institutions such as Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, Colleges of Technologies and Universities and they produces different personnel to act at different capacities in the field of work where they can contribute their quota to the nations development and organizational goals.

Consequently, the responsibility of providing appropriate formal technological facilities for secretarial students in vocational and technical education and the available manpower ought to provide secretarial students with saleable skills for gainful employment in various information when needed and in the form needed.  ICT centered education covers the use of computers, online self-learning packages, interactive CDs, satellites, radio, tele-presence system, optical fiber technologies and all types of information technologies hardware and software (Adebayo, 2002 in Onasanya, Shehu, Ogunlade&Adefuye, (2011).

Office Technology and Management programme in polytechnics could be seen as a curriculum response to the demands of dynamics and computerized workplace, which is aimed at the production of highly proficient breeds of administrative personnel that would coordinate high office information systems, and provide technical skills with core business line functions.  This is in line with the issue of national policy on education revised 2004.  The policy according to Aquah and Obi in Baba and Akaraha (2012) aimed at acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competencies both mental and physical as equipment for individual to live and contribute to the development of the society. Office Technology and Management programme has been designed by the National Board for Technical Education on November 2004, to replace secretarial studies programme which had been in existence since 1989.  According to Nwosu in Baba and Akaraha (2012) the review was necessitate by the fact that the skills, attitude and knowledge previously acquired in the course of the study were adequate to arm today’s Office Technology and Management graduates or secretaries with the competencies needed to adjust to the rapid changing needs of the world of work. However the reason was as a result of change in curriculum with more emphasis on ICT so as to equip students with necessary skills needed in today office environment.

Office Technology and Management objectives include the following:

Equipping the students with the knowledge, competencies and specific skills that will enable them to successfully hold position as secretaries, managers and administrative assistant in both public and private sectors of the economy. Exposing student to industrial experience thereby affording them the opportunity to practical’s their skills.

Developing the student’s  potentials for further academic and professional pursuit.

Developing in the students an occupational intelligence that will make them versatile and adaptable to the changing situation in the world of works (NBTE, 2006).

Besides, in his view, Kanu (1997) quoting the National Association of Secretaries of America, sees the secretary as an assistant to an executive possessing mastery of office skills and ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, who display initiative, exercises judgment and makes decision within the scope of his authority.

The education and training of secretaries are view differently from one organization to another and this is considered a primary factor in its structure.  The effect of sound education and training cannot be over emphasized. With the advancement of office technology, which is now with us, the secretaries needs to have computer competencies and word processing skills and the use of other modern office machines.  Education and training can be seen as a significant management tool in bring about positive change in behaviors of secretaries.  Thus can be improved upon to justify gradual returns on organizational investments.  There are two principal methods for ensuring that organizations members have the required traits, skills and abilities.  First is selection while the other is education and training.  And this function must be orderly and systematic in providing assistance to solving organizational problems and in achieving organizational goals.

It could be inferred that office technologists/secretaries did not find themselves as the top but start from somewhere.  Furthermore, there are certain hindrances in trying to achieve these goals.  The most important of which is financial   and time factor.  Moreover, to be a professional, one has to conform to the technical or ethical standard of that profession.  For one to claim to belong to the secretarial profession, it is assumed that the individual possesses the requisite Office Technology and Management/ secretarial professional qualification and possibly other personal qualities expected of a secretary.  However, a good secretary should be trained to have or possess a good general education, proficiency in short hand, keyboarding, competent in computer application and secretarial duties, sound in management and a good standard of general knowledge with the advancement of office technology.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is assumed that virtually all organizations need the services of a secretary or Office Technology and Management graduates.   It is confirmed that the secretary is a very important personnel in an organization and is expected to acquire the basic knowledge of business and office occupations. The question now is, are the secretaries given the required education and computer training to enable them acquire the knowledge and the skills needed for meeting the organizational goals?  Thus, if secretaries are actually willing to and needed to assume their role in organization, then there is need to find out the extent to which the secretary or Office Technology and Management graduate is being educated and trained to enable them fit into the organization to which they are employed.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to examined the effect of sound education and training of Office Technology and Management students towards organization goals.

1. To determine the level of education and training of the Office Technology and Management students/secretaries.
2. To assess the extent to which education and training of secretaries can be improved upon to justify gradual returns on organization investments.
3. To determine the prospects/ limitation of education and training of secretaries to organizational efficiency.
4. To examine the various ICT facilities and training of secretaries or office technologists.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The effect of sound education and training of Office Technology and Management graduates towards organizational goals will be of great significance to educational sectors especially (Bayelsa State College of Art and Science & Niger Delta University). Primarily, if these findings are implemented Educational sectors will be more inform of education and training of secretaries.  Besides, this research work will provide comprehensive information on training to all secretaries in the educational sectors and in all walks of  life.  It will also suggest ways of improving some of the services available to secretaries in order to realize a full and standard productive goal.

Finally, this research work will contribute to the formation of government policies which will compel all organization to train and educate secretaries.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

To guide the researcher in this study the following research question were raised.

1. What is the level of education and training possessed by the secretary or Office Technology and Management graduates?
2. To which extent can the secretaries or office technologist improve this training or skills to enhance organizational goals.
3. What are the limitations/prospects to the education and training of secretaries in organizational sectors?
4. What are the type of ICT facilities and training required for Office Technology and Management/secretaries.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work is limited to Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and Ogwashi-uku. And Science AguadamaEpie and Niger Delta University Yenagoa.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

In the course of carrying out this research, the researcher, faced the following limitations.

1. Insufficient time : As a result of combining the research work with study, the researcher was unable to provide a more detailed research work.
2. Finance: This was another problem encountered by the researcher. The researcher  was confronted with the problem of money and so was unable to provide enough data needed for the result.

• There was also difficulty in convincing the respondent to provide necessary and valid information.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

In the course of writing this research work, a number of unfamiliar word were used.  The researcher therefore attempts to clarify users in some of the words used.

Traits:         A particular quality of a person character

Skill:           An ability or cleverness at doing something resulting either from practice or from natural ability.

Structure:    This is connected with building as structural alterations.

Manpower: This is a number of people working or available for work, or power supplied by human physical effort.

Inferred:      means something reached i.e an opinion  from fact o reasoning.

Effect:         This is a change produced by an action or cause, resulting to outcome or impression produced on the mind of the spectator, listeners and readers.

Impede:       Delay or to stop the progress of something.

ICT:            Information Communication Technology

OTM:                   Office Technology and Management

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