1.1 Introduction
Human relation skills required of an office technology graduate have been studied with particular reference to office technology and management graduates in business organization. The basic concept of the office technology graduates and human relations were considered along with duties, responsibilities, and attributes of an office worker. Information relates to the study was acquired through questionnaires. An analysis showed that underlying factors. An analysis showed motivation and empathy also affect the efficiency and entire skills of an office technology graduate in business organization. The result emphasized the need to train an office technology graduate have mutual dealing, harmonious relationship and the need to be abreast with technology changes regarding office practice.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Human relation motivates people to develop an increase in productivity and fulfilling teamwork. Human relations are motivating people to develop productivity, aids in shaping source of misunderstanding between the management and workers and trade unions. According to Molokwu, (1993) effective listening habits are also important for all office members. The office technology graduates in business organization should learn and also encourage the workers under her to imbibe the technique of better listening in order to maintain good relationship with his/her bosses. Effective listening can also prevent misunderstanding and rumors from developing with the office. Human relations create and sustain job satisfaction, thereby reducing labour turnover, absenteeism, truancy and inefficiency and it also enhance staff motivation resulting in high productivity.
Man has been faced with the problem of building meaningful human relationships. First as a child, as an adolescent and as an adult in the business world. To determine what is meaningful for us as individuals, we must learn to understand ourselves in relation to others and the society. Therefore, building meaningful human relationship requires time, interaction and people.
In regard to business organization as social system, secretary who wishes to work should understand how they operate, as they combine both humanity and technology. In human relations, there are certain factors that make human relation skills poor, they includes inadequate salary paid by some organization to workers, not enough compare with the cost of living. If salary is inadequate, absenteeism and high labour turnover. An organization that does not pay adequate salary is obviously not a good environment for healthy human relation to flourish. Bad management can bring poor human relation wherein an organization both the executive and divisional head are also employee’s effort by the bosses to cover inherent managerial lapses eventually lead to the emergence of personality cult and tuques.
For OTM workers to be able to perform their duties and make meaningful contributions to the success of the organizational goals, they also need to acquire the relevant office skills. Modern office skills are those capabilities and abilities required for maximum utilization of innovative office technologies. Cornacchione (2012) stressed that office skills provide a sound basis for consistent and objective performance standards about what is needed and expected in an organization in terms of human relations skills and communications skills.
There are also many reasons why it is necessary for secretaries to exhibit good human relation as to help him or her to relate well her boss, her superiors, colleagues and subordinate. It also helps the person to understand man and how he behaves and thereby avoiding unnecessary interruption while discussing with people. Human relations help a trainee to communicate well with others and thereby fulfilling the interest and to achieve personal aspirations through such relations.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Human Relations Skills Required of Office Technology and Management Graduates in Business Organization.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Secretaries may be prudent in technical matters, yet fail in their administrative duties if the lack human relations skills. It has been discovered that some secretaries have not really come to understand their value and position in their various offices. They lack good communication skills in their office which covers the ability to be fluent in English language, to listen attentively to your customers or visitors complains and to have a good approach to issues no matter which condition or pressure you found yourself.
There is also an interpersonal problem which is the ability of the secretary to relate to coworkers within and outside the organization. Some office graduates don’t respect their boss and other coworkers. All these factors create room for poor growth and productivity of the business organization. That is why the human relation skills required from secretary are very important in an organization to enable the organization meet up to world class standard.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to ascertain the Human Relations Skills Required of Office Technology and Management Graduates in Business Organization. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the Human relations skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization
- To examine the Communication skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization
- To determine the interpersonal skills required from secretary by the business organization.
- To determine the technical skill required from secretary by the business organization.
- The last but not the least to determine the managerial skills required from office technology band management by business organization.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there technical skill required from secretary by the business organization?
- Are there communication skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization?
- What are the human relations skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization?
- What are the interpersonal skills required from secretary by the business organization?
- What are the managerial skills required from office technology band management by business organization?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of supervisors on the office management skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization
- H1: There is a significant difference in the mean ratings of supervisors on the office management skills required of Office Technology and Management graduates for effective performance in Business Organization
1.7 Significance of Study
This research work will guide the office management graduate in enhancing their roles in human relations who requires very special skill like tactfulness, empathy, tolerance, genuine like for people, the desire to help them when the need arises and lots more. It will also help the graduates understand the fact that individuals with varying traits.
This study will also aids secretaries into being more sensitive of their people that is making us of their knowledge of human relations to develop a greater realization of how attitudes and behaviors plays major parts in everyday affaires.
Also, office technology graduates can apply these human relations skills to help bosses develop an improved understanding of the problem of reconciling their interest and capabilities with the needs and goals of the business organization.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Human Relations Skills Required of Office Technology and Management Graduates in Business Organization. The skills in view cover interpersonal skills, communication and technical skill.
This project work is widely based on personal observation, personal interviews and response to questionnaire. Consequently, the topic in view is restricted only to secretary by the business organization.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Level: A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.
Computer Literacy: Is the ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving.
Student: A person formally engaged in learning, especially one enrolled in a school or college; pupil.
