OFFICE SKILLS REQUIRED BY OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE IN MODERN OFFICE

Abstract

The study examined office skills required by office technology and management graduates for effective performance in modern office. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of 254 respondents. A sample of 152 respondents made up of 64 males and 88 females HND students for 2019/2020 session was selected from OTM department  of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin and Federal Polytechnic, Offa. Office Skills required by Office Technology and Management Graduates Questionnaire (OSOTMGQ) which was duly validated with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.87 was used to gather data for the study. One hundred and fifty two copies of the questionnaire were administered and retrieved and used for the study. The data collected to answer the research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The null hypothesis was tested using t-test statistics. The study found among others that office skills both of which include hard and soft skills are required by OTM graduates for effective performance in modern office which include; technology skill, internet skill, computer skill, problem solving skill, presentation skill, communication skill among others. Based on the findings, conclusion was made that for any graduate to be successful in the 21^st century office, hard and soft skills must be acquired. If these are not acquired it means that the graduates will find it difficult to perform their assigned job and the name tag of unemployable graduates would still continue to follow OTM graduates. The following were recommended among others that, polytechnic institutions should provide enabling environment for OTM programme to survive and that different types of office machines and equipment, internet facilities, computers, and other gadget and devices in line with the experiences and skills needed in modern offices should be made available for the training and preparation of the student to acquire skills, competences and knowledge as required in the modern office right from the school; there is also the need for OTM lecturers to expose students to adequate and relevant hard and soft skills which will enhance the graduates’ effective performances in a modern office, because it's often said that hard skills will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get and keep thejob.

Keywords: Office, hard skills, soft skills, OTM, Modern Office