AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHALLENGES OF MODERN AUTOMATION ON THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF SECRETARIES IN FINANCIAL HOUSES

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Modern technology and Economic development in recent years have   affected   to   a   large   extent   the   functions   and   performance   of   the secretarial profession. Consequently, there arise the need for development of improved devices for the purpose of increasing productivity levels, to make work less tedious. The history of the secretarial revolution of the 14th to 16th centuries. Record keeping and inventions of Manu scripting were first developed. When it becomes imperative that these two innovations could not provide a complete answer to smooth take off of business and full office operations, further inventions were made giving birth to the art of typing with machines. The invention of the typewriter and its uses in the office were almost revolutionizing their useful to business application. Work could be done more quickly, more legibly, more accurately and more economically. But the expansion of business activities demands for more and better skill and experienced personnel. The invention of the typewriter was followed by adding and calculating machines, cash register and book-keeping machines. The office today has changed largely due to technical advances, new business procedures and concepts and international movement. The use of new machines like computers, fax, machines, electric typewriters, word processing   etc has generated new skills and new   job opportunities. These have posed a lot of challenges to the secretaries. Some secretaries cannot operate these electronic gadgets and other modern equipment. In a research carried out by Okoye (1992:48), it was discovered that “graduate secretaries were rated so low in their abilities to operate such equipments. Their knowledge and shorthand were appreciated but surprisingly, these secretaries could only exhibit a faint knowledge of the mechanism of the copiers and duplicating machines.