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:
- Immediate environment
- 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, over crowding, 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.
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
To determine the extend 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.
1.3 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
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:
- Technology; applied science, commerce and management
- 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.
- And for research on the development of adaptation which may from time to time be determined.
- 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:
- 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.
- School of Environmental Studies comprises of Architectural Technology, Quantity Survey and department of Building Technology
- School of Business and Management Studies it has department of
Business Studies, Office Technology and Management, Accountancy,
Banking and Finance, Marketing and Public Administration.
- School of Engineering Technology; comprises of
Electrical/Electronic Technology, Civil Engineering and Mechanical
Engineering Technology.
- 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 employee 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.