CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   GENERAL PERSPECTIVE

        According to Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary, “environment is defined as the natural conditions in which people, animals and plants lives”.  Environment can also be defined as “all the surrounding things, conditions, and influences affecting the growth or development of living things”.  It is the act or fact of surrounding in other words, environment means the surrounding in which living things live.  Therefore, environment for the purpose of this research refers to the office environment.  This type of environment gives secretaries good working relationship and enhance high productivity.

        The secretary’s environment can be divided into two:

1.          Immediate environment

2.          Remote environment

-                     Immediate environment:  refers to the secretary’s very office and other offices, of the same organization

-                     The Remote environment:  means the outside environment of the secretary’s office or building that has a negative effect such as, ventilation, noise, temperature, overcrowding, cleanliness, lighting, attitude of office colleagues etc.  It is therefore, a prime importance for employers to make environment as conducive as possible for the secretary’s higher productivity which is ultimate goal of any employer.  Creating selection, arrangement, and use of sample physical surrounding chairs, tables, storage, lighting, decorating and other physical element that comprises your personal office are mans of enhancing competences as well as the image of an organization.

An improved office environment will result in a reduction in a number of complaints and absenteeism and will bring an increase in productivity, Roelofson (2002).

Secretary  makes critical difference between success and failure. The effectiveness with which organizations manage, 15 develop, motivate and engage the willing contribution of the secretary  will enable them to capitalize on their expertise most efficiently. There is a link between people management and business performance. According to Roelofson one of the fundamental human requirements is office environment that allows people to perform their work optimally under comfortable condition. People are beginning to be conscious of the fact that to be happy and cheerful in one’s work place, some conditions must be present even with little pay. For example, notwithstanding whatever is provided for a seamstress for her job, if there is no machine, all that is provided comes to naught. Again, when a librarian is provided for a noisy environment, he will not carry out his work effectively because the environment suitable for effective library function is quietness and orderliness. Similarly, an Accountant who deals with figures will be annoyed if he is sharing a calculator with four staff members. Also, the secretary is looked upon as human machine, trained with the responsibility of taking note of what others may regard as minor and making suggestions based on records available. To effectively carry out these and other functions, the secretary needs a ‘high-tech’ office where some electronic machines will complement his/her human ability. In an employment situation, the secretary  promises to live up to expectation. The employer expects nothing less. But the point is: has the employer provided a office environment that will facilitate the effective discharge of the secretary ’ assigned duties? Most employers keep complaining of poor returns from secretary  without taking out time to find out why the new employer has not performed beyond what the former one was able to do. If an organization provides its secretary  with better work and most conducive office environment they can perform exceptionally well, and companies can capitalize on their enhanced productivity in the shape of cost reduction, which will ultimately contribute awards rich profits. The relationship between secretary  attitudes and company performance, as suggested by Patterson et’ al., (1997), is highly correlated. They suggested that managers of organizations who are eager to promote productivity and Profitability should pay close attention to the attitudes of their secretary  in order to make them more positive.

In the light of above this research will focuses on the effects of environment on secretary’s productivity, it will look at some of the areas like poor ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, internal noise, heating all these are factors that can affect the productivity of working secretary in an office environment.

1.2   STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

        People are beginning to be conscious of the fact that to be happy and cheerful in one’s work place, some conditions must be present even with little pay. For example, notwithstanding whatever is provided for a secretary for her job, if she is not equipped, all that is provided comes to naught. Taking it to a librarian is provided for a noisy environment, he will not carry out his work effectively because the environment suitable for effective library function is quietness and orderliness. Similarly, an Accountant who deals with figures will be annoyed if he is sharing a calculator with four staff members. Also, the secretary is looked upon as human machine, trained with the responsibility of taking note of what others may regard as minor and making suggestions based on records available. To effectively carry out these and other functions, the secretary needs a ‘hightech’ office where some electronic machines will complement his/her human ability. In an employment situation, the secretary  promises to live up to expectation. The employer expects nothing less. But the point is: has the employer provided a office environment that will facilitate the effective discharge of the secretary ’ assigned duties? Most employers keep complaining of poor returns from secretary  without taking out time to find out why the new employer has not performed beyond what the former one was able to do. If an organization provides its secretary  with better work and most conducive office environment they can perform exceptionally well, and companies can capitalize on their enhanced productivity in the shape of cost reduction, which will ultimately contribute awards rich profits. The relationship between secretary  attitudes and company performance, as suggested by Patterson et’ al., (1997), is highly correlated.

1.3   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

I.      To find out and ascertain the effect of environment condition to the working secretary in an organization.

II.     To encourage the organization to acquire more office automation for effectives efficiency of secretary

III.    To provide organization with mores ideas for a conducive environment for the workers

iv. To determine the extent to which the environment factors such as noise, ventilation, lack of enough space in the office and equipment can hinder the performance of secretary in an organization.

1.4   RESEARCHER QUESTIONS

i.      Does lack of constant power supply in an office affect the performance of a secretary?

ii.     Does too much noise in an office affect the secretary’s productivity?

iii.    Does an office which is not clean and tidy, brings about low productivity?

iv.    Do stuffy environment causes drowsiness, which in turn produces less accurate work?

1.5   LIMITATION

        The research work is limited to the case study that is the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda.

1.6   DELIMITATION

The study therefore, will highly be concentrated on factors that affect performance of secretaries in the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda

1.7   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

        The research is to identify the importance of office environment, know the effect of environmental condition in the life of working secretary, and also to fulfill the following:

-                     To serve as a criteria or form of reference to secretaries in an organization

-                     To aid students who may wish to conduct research on project that relates to this topic.

1.8   HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CASE STUDY

        The Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State was formulated, established by the then Executive President of Nigeria Alhaji Shehu Shagari in June 1983 vide a decree no 33 of 25 July 1979 as amended in 1985 with others.  The Polytechnic is situated in Kaura Namoda Local Government that covers an area of 4.98 square kilometers and has a population of 370,367 according to 1991 Population Census figures, among the pioneer local government that was created in 1967.  The objective of the polytechnic is specified in the decree as follows; to provide full time or part time courses as instruction and training in:

1.          Technology; applied science, commerce and management

2.          And in such other fields or approved learning relevant to the need of the development in Nigeria in the areas of individual and agricultural production and distribution.

3.          And for research on the development of adaptation which may from time to time be determined.

4.          To arrange conference, seminars and the study group relevant to the field of learning.

The polytechnic has two campuses know as “ACADA” which is situated at the northwest of the town, while the “MAIN CAMPUS” is situated along Shinkafi Road, some three kilometers away from the town campus, the polytechnic currently has five schools and these schools are headed by directors.

To perform such other function as opinion of the Council may serve to promote the objective of the polytechnic.  The Rector was in charge of the polytechnic.  The first Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda was in person of Alhaji Ja’afar B. Ango (1983 – 1991) Engr. Lugard A. Ahmed is the present Acting Rector of the Polytechnic.  The Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda comprises of five school namely:

1.          The School of Science and Technology comprises of the department of Science Laboratory Technology, Catering and Hotel Management Food Science Technology, Maths and Statistics and Computer Science.

2.          School of Environmental Studies comprises of Architectural Technology, Quantity Survey and department of Building Technology

3.          School of Business and Management Studies it has department of Business Studies, Office Technology and Management, Accountancy, Banking and Finance, Marketing and Public Administration.

4.          School of Engineering Technology; comprises of Electrical/Electronic Technology, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

5.          School of General Studies; comprises of department of Pre-ND BAM, Science and OTM.

The Polytechnic also runs a Consultancy Unit which is headed by a director and it runs part-times programmes such as certificate courses in Public Account and Audit, Public Administration, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and OTM, while the diploma course in Public Administration, Public Account and Audit, Computer Studies and Islamic Studies respectively.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

-       Environment:  refers to the physical condition in the working place of a secretary

-       Secretary:  is an secretary  in the office working as the personal assistant to an executive, dealing with letters, filling, typing and making appointments and arrangement

-       Condition:  refers to present state of health or being physically which may either be good or poor, excellent or perfect.

-       Organization:  organizing a group of people for business purposes.

-       Equipment:  refers to the things needed in the office to enhance the work of a secretary.

-       Furniture:  refers to the thing in the office like table, chairs, wall clock etc.