THE EFFECTS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICE STAFF

Communication is a process in which people share information, ideas and feelings. Today there are many ways we can receive information and also communicate back or give complete. Such as computer, electronics mail telephone. Information the oxford advanced learners dictionary of currents English described information as fact heard or discovered about somebody or something. Information techniques the same dictionary. Sees information technology as the study or use of electronics equipment, especially computer for strong analyzing and distributing words numbers and pictures. Information technology (IT) digest defines information technology as a technology phenomenon in the revolutionary sense of the word, which inter connects all fabrious of society and human activity and it mission is to change the way we live, educate people, work and engage all other life activities.

Although information technology (IMT) made its input after the second world war, its remarkable impact could be said to have begin in the 1970’s with the rapid increase in computing power that resulted from advances made in microchips and semiconductors, by such companies like motorole an Intel. The process was accelerate by other factors as advances in computer operating system software, communication (fibre optics and satellite) as well as the internet, extract and internet.

Information is power while communication moves the wheels of progress, but it is technology that rules the world. In the distant past, people hardly knew anything beyond their immediate neighbourhood. When they communicated, it was among themselves and their immediate neighbour but time changes everything wit the advent of the printing press which revolutionized information and communication technologies, giving birth as it were, to modern sophisticate technologies like the computer and the internet.

David Harry (1986) argued vehemently that the advancement of new technologies will generate redundancy among the staff as less hand will be needed to man the machine. It could also make some secretaries resign compulsorily their job as the machines will certainly replace the operations of many of them. It is not very easy for technologies to replace secretaries in the office because the place of a secretaries is very significant. The problem of the study is that many secretaries have been replaced in office while many others have been hindered from securing a good job by the introduction of technology in the society especially in the case of secretarial profession.  All these facts are what the researcher intends to find out in this study using one of the subsidiary company of (first bank) in Enugu Emene (Branch) as its main focus. It is done to enable the researcher established the effect of information and communication technologies on the performance of the office staff.

1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In some organization the management prefer to employ computer operators, programme managers and equipment at the expense of providing adequate training and education for their secretaries to handle such machines and equipment. Sanders (1979) states that information technology wage has often made it possible for people to eliminate routine procedures and to use their operative abilities in more challenging and   rewarding wags. It is therefore feared that the introduction of this viable equipment may throw some secretaries out of job. It is a result of the complexity of office services automated devices. Computers have become indispensable in modern organization, the secretary who is an indispensable member of the office has been affected on one way or the other by the introduction of these information technology. Therefore this research work is designed to fine how true these are and also highlight instead the challenge and prospects there are for the modern secretaries in this era of advanced information technology.

1.3      PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This research work will try to investigate the effect of information and communication technologies on the performance of the office staff, by doing the following.

1.  Finding out how information technology can reduce the work load of the secretary

2.  Find out if an office can function well without the use of a computer.

3.  Find out whether computer device has come to displace the role of the secretary or to improve the secretary efficiency.

4.  To identify the modern office machine that are of vital important in the office and to the secretary in particular.

5.  To find out the problems caused by effective information and communication technology on the performance of the secretaries.

1.4      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

Information technology has brought repaid improvements through information technology the world has been globalized to a village. Access to information has become easier. Information technology has brought great improvement in our organization. This new equipment is capable of storing materials to the extent of its memory capacity which might be several thousand of words. The operators can correct, insert delete and edit materials easily it enable the secretarial staff to produce more work with less effort. It removes the need for repetitive typing and allows the secretary more time for other routine jobs. This project will help to enlighten organization on the need of training their secretaries on the use of computer devices for efficiency and productivity. Secretaries themselves will also see the need for them to get more versed in their profession by acquiring computer training. It is hoped that at the end of this study, organization will see the need to introduce information technology (IT) in their organizations for the benefit of the society and the secretary in particular.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research work will provide answers to the following questions.

1.  How will information technology reduce the work-load of a secretary.

2.  Can an office function effectively without the aid of computer

3.  Will computer take over completely the work of a secretary.

4.  Information technology is it changing the work of the secretaries or eliminating it.

5.  Has information technology enhance interpersonal relationship and co-operation among the staff of the establishment.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is very wide if it was to be carried out in all organization. The study is delimited, based on the fact that there is limited time. Lack of finance and material resources to study the whole organizations. Therefore this research study will be confined to secretaries and staff of the First Bank of Nig. Plc. Enugu Emen Branch.