EXTENT OF THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS IN OFFICES AS PERCEIVED BY GRADUATE SECRETARIES WITHIN THE POLYTECHNICS IN TARABA STATE

Abstract

Courses in electronic systems are embedded in the Office Technology and Management Technology programme of the Nigerian Polytechnics. Graduate secretaries on completion of their studies, should have acquired sufficient practical skills for work. The graduate working secretaries ought to perform their functions at work places in line with their acquired skills. Offices at present are highly improved such that contemporary office practices are intertwined with the recent developments in the e-world. This study was undertaken to determine theextent of use of electronic systems in offices as perceived by graduate secretaries within the Polytechnics in Taraba State. Five segments of the electronic systems including: Electronic Publishing System, Electronic Communication System, Electronic Collaborating System, Image Processing System and Office Management System were studied. Five objectives and five research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study from the two Polytechnics within Taraba State was 41. All were studied as no sample was taken due to the sizeable number. The instrument for data collection was a thirty item structured questionnaire. Mean was used as the statistical tool to determine the opinions of the respondents based on a five point Likert scale at demarcated boundary limits. It was discovered that of all the studied systems, the Electronic Collaborating Systemand Office Management Systems are not sufficiently in use largely due to the fact that most of the secretaries were not conversant with them. It was recommended among others that; curriculum planners should occasionally scan the work environment to determine nascent developments that should be incorporated in the course curriculum of Office Technology and Management.

Key words: Office Technology and Management, Graduate Secretaries, Electronic Systems.