Survey Of Factors That Influence The Performance Of Secretaries In Private Organization

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The word secretary is derived from the Latin Word “Secretus” which liberally means secret. According to John Harrison a secretary is an executive assistance or anyone who acts as a personal assistant to a senior executive.
Oxford Dictionary defines as secretary as an employee in an office who deals with correspondence. Keeps records make arrangements and opportunities for a particular member of the staff.
Azuka E.B defines it as a person employed by another person, society or corporation for the purpose of conducting correspondence. Keeping business records and transacting business.
He National Secretaries Association defines a secretary as an assistance to an executive possessing mastery of office skills with ability to assume responsibilities without direct supervisions who displays initiative, exercises sense of judgment and who takes decisions within the scope of assigned authority
Another school thought says that a secretary is a person who maintains high standard of confidentiality, a repository of information.
On the other hand, private organization can be defined as the management of an organization by individuals, such as are profit orientated and are taken of by the individuals.
SOME RESPONSBILITIES OF SECRETARIES ARE
1. Treating of mails
2. Answering of phone, she receives and answers the telephone
3. making travel arrangements
4. Receives visitors in the office
5. She arranges for meeting
6. Supervision of junior staff
7. Keeping a desk diary both for herself and her boss.
8. Miscellaneous functions is operation of office machines. The secretary is the alter ego of the executive. She is also seen as the life wire of the organization. All these notwithstanding, evidence on the ground has pointed out some factors that results to ineffectiveness ion work of secretaries. The ineffectiveness of secretaries canb diminish the efficiency of the organization concerned. These inefficiencies was traced back to lack of good human relation insufficient office equipment lack of job satisfaction and low pay levels.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The contributions and effectiveness of a secretary can either enhance or diminish the efficiency of a private organization. It has been observed that secretaries in private organizations performs below expectation of the bosses and their poor performance could be attributed to certain conditions or factors. Generally evidence of inefficiency is seen in their attitude towards their work
It was suggested by Oklo Angele N. that certain number of factors were responsible for this. They include poor salary, lack of human relations, lack of interest in their work, poor working condition, inadequate equipment unattractive fringe benefits, lack of job satisfactions. Therefore, the responsibilities emulated cannot be fully actualized
In addition to these, Onwuka L.I suggested that some secretaries in private organization are quitting their jobs, which now resulted into lack of competent secretaries. Other are not fully committed due to much engagement like part time work in order to make both ends meet.
In view of the deteriorations state of private organization in Nsukka local government area, this study is therefore designed to identify the factors that influence the performance of secretaries in private organization.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The aim of the study was generally to determine the factors that influence the performance of secretaries in Nsukka local Government Area of Enugu state specifically in the study has to
1. Identify the factors that course poor human relations between the boss and the secretary.
2. Identify the factors that could distort job satisfaction of secretaries
3. discover the measures that could be used to improve the job performance of secretaries.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The importance of the investigation into factors that influence the performance of secretaries in private organizations will help to find out the factors that result to ineffectiveness and inefficiency of secretaries.
The research will enable the organization or the employers of labor to know how to relate with their secretaries.
The findings of the study will help the secretaries to be interested and proud of their jobs seeing alternative fringe benefits around which brings about job satisfactions
In addition to these, this research will also assist future researchers in the factors that influences the performance of secretaries in private organization.

1.5 ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY
The under listed assumption were inherent in the study
1. The private organization lacks some equipment needed by the secretaries.
2. There is poor human relations between the organization and the secretaries
3. All the respondents will read and answer the questionnaire truthfully

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This studies would seek answers to the following research questions.
1. What are the factors that cause poor human relations between the boss and the secretaries
2. What are the factors that distort job performance of secretaries
3. What are the measures that can be used to improve the job performance of secretaries

1.7 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study was delimited to the secretaries in some selected private organizations in Nsukka local Government Area in Enugu state. It excluded secretaries in civil service etc.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
The terms used in this study which have unique meaning that could be subjected to different interpretations by different readers of this project report are defined as follows
RESEARCHER: The person who carried out the investigation.
BOSS: This is the executive or the employer who gives order the secretary
SECRETARY: Secretary is an assistance to the executive possessing the mastery of office skill and ability to assume responsibilities without direct supervision.
PRIVATE Means that a particular thing that is owned by one or group of persons, not people ion general
ALTER AGO This means ones other self or an assistance