A SURVEY INTO THE DEGREE OF USEFULNESS OF SHORTHAND TO MODERN SECRETARIES (A CASE STUDY OF UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC ENUGU)

ABSTRACT The degree to which shorthand is used in offices has been of serious concern both to students and tutors in secretarial studies.  This study investigated the extent to which secretaries make use of shorthand in their day-to-day office work, whether the extent of usage is proportionate to the effort put in learning the skill and whether employers who want secretaries regard shorthand skill as job requirements. In order to arrive at a c conclusive decision on the above objectives, the researcher carried out a library research, interviews and questionnaires. The population of this study consisted of sixty secretaries in three branches of Union Bank Plc in Enugu State drawn from secretaries and executives in the banks.  Questionnaires and oral interview were used to collect data. Statistical tools used are simple average and percentage.  When the data was analyzed, it was found that shorthand is not extensively used in offices and that the speeds at which employers dictate is between 80 and 100 w.p.m.  It was further discovered that executives insist on shorthand skill as a job requirement for secretaries though they do not use it extensively and would not employ a secretary two has no shorthand skill. It was recommended that as many secretaries prefer to make use of their shorthand skill in their work, the executive should encourage them by dictating rather than writing out correspondents for them.  It was further recommended that as shorthand is still considered a job requirement for secretaries, they should strive hard to master this skill in spite of the difficulties encountered in learning it to enable them meet the needs of their employers. As executive do not dictate at any speed higher than 100 w.p.m., there is need for secretarial training institutions to step down their shorthand speed requirement from 120w.p.m to 100 w.p.m. to relieve the secretaries of the anxiety of the additional 20 w.p.m.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Approval page Dedication Acknowledgement Abstract Table of content
Chapter one 1.0Introduction 1.1Background of the study 1.2Statement of the problem 1.3Purpose of the  study 1.4Delimitation of the study 1.5Significance of the study 1.6Research questions
Chapter two 2.0Review of related literature 2.1The meaning of a secretary 2.2Qualities of a secretary 2.3Training of a secretary 2.4Qualification of secretary 2.5Uses of shorthand and summary 2.6Summary of literature review
Chapter three 3.0Research methodology 3.1Population 3.2Sample and sampling technique 3.3Data collection instrument 3.4Distribution and retrieval of questionnaire 3.5Method of data analysis
Chapter four 4.0Presentation & analysis of data
Chapter five 5.0Discussion & findings, recommendation and conclusion 5.1Summary of findings 5.2Recommendations Limitation Appendix Questionnaire