Survey Of The Role Of Modern Office Equipment In Modern Offices

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
It is said that the successes of any person or organization depends largely on equipment available to a human person and the constant modification of modern office equipment that is fully up-dated with modern office equipment.
This ascertain beings us to the purpose of an office which includes the following: Administration, clerical work, money handling, information communication system which is an embodiment of secretarial operations. Office as a mini-social system according to Farber and Barr 1979 plays important roles in defining responsibilities. For the aforementioned reasons, the secretary must be available to organize and run the office completely. Here the secretary is seen as an executive assistant who has a mastery of office/organizational skills. He/she has to be familiar with the manipulation of the modern office equipment which is made to enhance his/her performance. Office automation provides increased productivity through improved access to data, faster responses to customer demands and faster, decision making. The invention of modern office equipment were necessitated as a result of the growth in large scale enterprises and also as a technological break through. The office therefore relies much on sophisticated office equipment in order to cope with the ever-increasing activities in the organization. Like-in Nigeria Breweries Plc. Which is one of the largest quoted company in Nigeria stick market has successive secretarial functions. This company started in Nigeria in 1946 producing starlarger and has witnessed a lot of human and technological transformations. In their polices to keep a healthy workforce in personnel and machines have taken their secretarial operations to grater heights.With this, they were able to achieve their aim through the introduction of any equipment that will enhance the job of their secretaries and also customers services satisfaction. Nigeria Breweries believes in breaking into new areas. They contend so much with the tomorrows of their business. Strategically, actions, planning and implementation to ensure that tomorrow is achieved. Nigeria Breweries Plc is futuristic in their business approach made possible by the above and vision driven leadership of their past and immediate directors/chief executives that pilots the affairs of the business in conjunction with Heineken international. Recently, a multi-billion naira ultra modern brewery has been cited in Enugu State with the slogan that it is a world class investment that can complete with other out fit in any part of the world is modern office equipment and production etc. the introduction of modern office equipment in Nigeria Breweries Plc mainly the computer in every office of the Company also shows that the secretarial performance goes with the acquisition of these modern equipments.
It seems however, that although the higher levels of management might not make much direct use of modern office technology the secretary will. This office automation for the secretarial is in providing the secretary with a system that meets the real need identified as being important rather than the ones of typing and stenographic that is thought to be important. As against the traditional office, the modern office has a lot of activities to perform with the aid of modern equipment.
Nowadays, un-countable manufacturing industries have installed these equipments and the secretaries are presented to manipulate them in discharging their duties efficiently and effectively.

Statement of the Problem
The important of efficiency in job performance cannot be over-emphasized. A case for the pursuit of increased efficiency/productivity can be made simply by looking at the categories of office work, the size of the office workforce and the impact of mechanization.
The secretarial professions have witnessed a tremendous change in terms of technological advancement. Modern office equipment has taken the toll of events with the growing rate of scientific and technology which are used in manufacturing industries to facilitate office work and reduce labour costs. They includes: electronic typewriters, fax machines, telephone, computers, dictating machines, recording machines etc.

Objective/Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of modern office equipment on the job performances of secretaries in Nigeria Breweries Plc Enugu State.
1. The extent the modern office equipment enhances or has enhanced the job performance of secretaries in discharging of her duties in Nigeria breweries Plc Enugu State.
2. The accuracy of work done using these equipments.
3. The quantity of time spent or needed to perform a task using these equipments.
4. The reduction of cost brought about by the installation of these equipments.
5. The job satisfaction the secretary derives from the use of these equipments in performing her duties.

Significance of the Study
This study will be of great value to the professional secretaries and society in general as well as manufacturing firms like Nigeria Breweries Plc Enugu State. The knowledge exerted from the study will be beneficial to secretaries in discharging of her duties and will definitely encourage new innovations in office automation and information technology on the part of the implementers.

Research Questions
The following questions was designed by the researcher to enable us reach the conclusions such as
1. How far has the modern office equipment enhanced efficiency in secretarial duties in manufacturing industries especially in Nigeria Breweries Plc-Enugu State?
2. To what extent has the use of this equipment assisted the secretary in discharging her duties?
3. How accurate and qualitative is the work done using these equipment in manufacturing industries?
4. What are the problems the secretaries encounters in the use of this modern office equipment?

Delimitation of the Study
This study is limited only to Nigeria Breweries Plc Enugu and dother manufacturing industries in Enugu State and seek to find out the effect of modern office equipment on the job performance of secretaries in manufacturing industries.
The category of people to be studied in Nigeria Breweries plc Enugu State are as follows:
1. Designated employed secretaries
2. Clerks whose function has been enveloped by modern office equipment.
3. Managers whose functions is to make decisions, plan and set policies, organize and staff etc.
4. Operatives who works with their hands.

Definition of Terms
Modern office is a place (room or building) where the paper or clerical work of an organization is done. It is a place where information is received, stored acted upon, passed on, filed or kept; a place where administrative, clerical, and financial duties in establishments are executed.
Office equipment is those furniture and machines that increases the productivity of secretaries and workers in the office. E.g. letter operating machines paper folding machine, franking machine, computer, desks, chairs, tables etc.