1.1 Introduction
Ethics is the systematic study of the norms of human behavior. It is the discipline which studies the moralities of human conduct and the principle of moral behavior. Professional ethics are principles that govern the behaviour of a person or group in a business environment. Like values, professional ethics provide rules on how a person should act towards other people and institutions in such an environment (Ede, 2015). Professional ethics may be understood as professionally acknowledged measures of individual and business conduct, values, and guiding principles. Professional ethics is nothing but a code of conduct applicable to different professions and is set up by the expert members of such profession or professional organizations.
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, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In spite of the widely acceptance nature of moral requirements and the presence of universal work ethics of a class or society, there also exist specific rules of conduct for the increasingly growing number of professional activities. These rules of conduct for ethics of two things, it refers to well based standard of right and wrongs that prescribes what human ought to do, usually in terms of right, obligations, benefits to society, fairness or specific rules and virtues. (Richard, Donald, Arnold, Bernard, Presha, 2005).
Omole (2002) says Ethics is the shared normative values which any societies holds dearly and are used to judge the behavior or performance of any member of that society. It set out the minimum acceptable behavior which any member should attain to be regarded as a good ambassador of the society. Furthermore Olufemi Onabanjo (2003) said an act is morally good if it does no harm to anybody, the views that human nature is basically goes has many supporters in the ethical field of philosophy. A secretary can be described as anybody who is assigned to record sp of a meeting, irrespective of his or her secretarial skills.
Today, many professional bodies have developed policies and professional codes for their practitioners and the secretary is not exempted from those rules that govern the behaviours of professionals. These set of moral or codes of conduct are strictly adhered to an inculcated in the discharge or conduct of these professional bodies. Professional ethics play an important role in ensuring the continuity in the moral conduct development of the society. Bedside, it enhances a stable code in the moral life of people especially where forces of simple moral commandment grow weaker or fails. Besides, social system and regulations surpasses one another due to intensify social tensions (Richard, et al 2005).
The ethics and social behaviours as well as the interest of an secretary is asserted only to the which she puts into practice the general principles of social and moral attributes adopted to the specific features of his profession and the degree of his awareness of his responsibility to the performance and conduct of his job. A low level of professional ethics is one of the most destructive and protracted consequences of the unwanted. Professional ethics normally is indentified in these varieties of specialized activities in which man himself is the object of research thus, it relates to the behaviour of people. Professional as regards to the career Doctors, lawyers, accountants and secretaries etc are expected to behave in a certain way or fellow specific codes of conduct in performing their jobs this will guard against their actions or behaviours bringing their profession to disrepute.
The secretaries’ profession is a dynamic one. This is not because they need secretaries in every organization, but because one of the yard sticks for judging the growth and standard of an organization is the quality of its secretarial service. Since secretary ship is a profession, it must have set of code of conduct expected from practitioners of the profession.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Influence of Ethical Behaviour on the Productivity of Secretary in an Organisation.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that professional ethics is the part of the requirements for efficiency in the conduct of the secretary's job. The secretary is required to keep secrets of his employer and organization as this will determine the duration of his job as a confidential office manager. It is a fact that human beings are one important resources available to the organizational and prove to pressure and influences such as noise, poor lighting and unsuitable work tools as this always creates discomfort in the work place and tend to urge the employees to seek more suitable conditions outside the work station. These conditions which are harmful to their health and moral being results in physical and mental fatigue, in other words it result to inefficiency.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Influence of Ethical Behaviour on the Productivity of Secretary in an Organisation using Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the factors influencing the ethical behaviour of Secretary in an Organisation;
- To evaluate the extent to which these codes of ethics have impacted the job of the secretary;
- To determine the effect of poor ethical behaviour on secretarial productivity; and
- To identify problems of negative ethical behaviour of secretary in an organisation and proffer solutions.
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:
- To what extent does the codes of ethics have impacted the job of the secretary?
- What are the factors influencing the ethical behaviour of secretary in an Organisation?
- What are the effects of poor ethical behaviour on secretarial productivity?
- What are the problems of negative ethical behaviour of secretary in an organisation and proffer solutions?
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.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant factors influencing the ethical behaviour of secretary in an Organisation
- H1: There are significant factors influencing the ethical behaviour of secretary in an Organisation
1.7 Significance of Study
This study is a build-up of additional information as an extension of knowledge in secretary profession. The findings of the study will enhance the professionalization of secretary ship and its ethical conduct. Being aware of their professional ethics, the secretary will improve secretarial image and enhance acceptability of the profession by the society.
In addition, this work when completed will be an eye-opener or guide for the chief executive in employing secretaries and also for the secretary in the performance and conduct of job which will speed organizational objectives/goals.
Above all, this project when completed will serve as reference materials for prospective secretaries who may wish to be enlightened more on the professional ethics required of the secretary in the conduct of her job.
Finally, it will be of immense help to other students and researchers who may wish to embark on similar research in the future.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Influence of Ethical Behaviour on the Productivity of Secretary in an Organisation using Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State as a case study.
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.
- 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).
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
- Professional: Is a person formally certified by a professional body of belonging to a specific profession by virtue of having completed a required course of studies and or practice.
- Ethics: An ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. An ethics has to do with my religious beliefs. Being ethical is doing what the law requires.
- Office Manager: Is an employee of a business or organization whose duties typically include allocating physical resources such as office space and supplies. Scheduling internal events overseeing operational staff such as accountants, technicians, and administrative personnel, and other details necessary to run on office in any industry or field.
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