CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY In any organization time is rated very highly. A secretary that doe not work with time cannot be productive in an office. So the secretary must know how to manage her time properly, as well as that of her boss to be to be able to achieve the organizations set goals. Time can be described as the one commodity that is unbiased, available to all in equal amounts, it does not cost us anything monetarily, and is completely at our own disposal. We cannot store it, we cannot spend it in advance, we never seem to have enough of it and it is not possible to retrieve it once used. Time wasting on the other hand has been observed as the major cause of secretary’s poor performance on the job. Good secretaries are those who can manage themselves as well as others. Time according to Bennett (1989) is the inexplicable raw material of everything. Time can be given different definitions. In a day of 24 hours sometimes we hear some people say that the day is too slow while others say it is fast. Even a year can be said to be can be said to be long or too short. It is a popular saying that time is money. Invariably, it is important that time should be properly utilized or well managed. An efficient secretary arranges her day’s work according to priority in order to meet up with the boss’s target, thereby achieving greater result in the work place. Aromolaran (2000) identified time waters as in efficient procedures for handling tasks that must be done.” He further explained that time wasters are also regarded as those vices which prevent office workers from accomplishing desired goals at the appropriate time. A good secretary is one that always accepts responsibilities without grumbling, and should be able to carry out the work without supervision. Akinola (1999) defined a “secretary as a very important person in an organization” and further explained that his / her contribution can either enhance or mar the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The researcher in the course of her discussion with some secretaries discovered that a lot of them close very late from their offices due to heavy work load which however spill over to the next working day. This problem arose due to the inability of some secretaries to plan their work in order of priority. This observation brought about the need to examine the roles being played by secretaries in improving their job performances, thereby achieving the organizational set goals and objectives. Sometimes, some secretaries do not go for lunch because of pressure of work. Despite tight schedule of work, some secretaries still manage their time very well and succeed in meeting the required targets. The problem of this study was to determine the effect of self organization and time management on job performance of secretaries in New Nigeria Bank Plc, Lagos. This problem arose due to the inability of some secretaries to plan their work in order of priority. This observation brought about the need to examine the roles being played by secretaries in improving their job performance, thereby achieving the organizational get goals and objectives. Sometimes, some secretaries do not go for lunch because of work. Despite tight schedule of work, some secretaries still manage their time very well and succeed in meeting the required target. The problem of this study was to determine the effect of time management on the job performance of secretaries in New Nigerian Bank Plc, Lagos.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this research work is to view critically the effect of time management on the performances of secretaries in an organization. The researcher intends to find ways secretaries can meet up with organizational set goals and objectives if they manage their time effectively. It is very necessary for secretaries to learn how to manage time effectively in order to meet up with deadlines and targets. Secretaries should organize their time properly as well as that of their bosses. The researcher also intends to examine the factors that contribute to time wastage within the organization and to identify those factors that will lead to successful time management by secretaries. Most importantly, to recommend ways on improving the situation.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study is of great importance to secretaries in both the public and private sectors, as well as business men generally, administrators and top government functionaries engaged in one form of activity or the other. It will be highly useful to secretaries in the sense that it will help them use their time more judiciously so that they can be effectively and efficiently programmed towards achieving the organizational set goals and objective’s there by having sense of accomplishment in their chosen field. The knowledge acquired from this study will enhance secretaries job performance and will also improve their knowledge on how to manage their time effectively, and reduce time wastage. The study has been of immense importance to both management and staff of New Nigerian Bank Plc a popular saying that time is money. Invariably, it is important that time should be properly utilized or well managed. An efficient secretary arranges her day’s work according to priority in order to meet up with the boss’s target, there by achieving greater result in the work place. Aromolaran (2000) identified “time wasters as inefficient procedures for handling tasks that must be done. “he further explained that time wasters are also regarded as those vices which prevent office workers from accomplishing desired goals at the appropriate time. A good secretary is one that always accepts responsibilities without grumbling, and should be able to carry out the work without supervision. Akinola (1999) defined a “secretary as a very important person in an organization” and further explained that his/her contribution can either enhance or mar the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. This study is of great importance to secretaries in both the public and private sectors, as well as business men generally, administrators and top government functionaries engaged in one form of activity or the other. It will be highly useful to secretaries in the sense that it will help them use their time more judiciously so that they can be effectively and efficiently programmed towards achieving the organizational set goals and objectives, there by having sense of accomplishment in their chosen field. The knowledge acquired from this study will enhance secretaries job performance and will also improve their knowledge on how to manage their time effectively, and reduce time wastage. The study will surely be of immense importance to both management and staff of New Nigerian Bank Plc.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION 1. What are the methods secretaries can use to organize themselves and manage their time? 2. To what extent can poor self organization and time management affect the job performance of secretaries? 3. What are the methods that constitute time wasting? 4. to what extent do you perform your administrative jobs along with your routine secretarial duties?