CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
One of the basic problems in the
society is just how workers should be motivated to achieve the goals in our
industries. It is not an easy thing to go by since a little percentage of
workers derive slight personal satisfaction from the jobs and enjoy little
sense of accomplishment or creativity
This
is why Carvel F.J in his book “Human Relation in Business” stated that in
“Large organization people work together, follows instructions and order they
do not understand” just few workers have the opportunity of self-expression or
freedom. Then the question remains, how could this employees satisfy their
personal need and that of the organization they are working with.
How
can the secretary motivate workers at all levels of the organization? This was
the saying of those who are old in the profession but to the way they view it,
as frustrating and unrewarding. The young workers who faces the prospects of
going to work with great fear of uncertainty (lack of understanding as regard
to the new job or even inexperienced ones, need to develop their behavior which
will help them adopt to the conditions of the job)
The
best approach for a secretary to apply is the scientific and methodological
system of human relations to achieve the desired goals and objectives of her
organization. It is quite obvious that human relations deals with the
interaction of a wide range of circumstances and of course social setting but I
am going to limit this to the office conditions especially in financial
institutions.
Carvel
F.J (1977) say “That human relations can be pleasant and rewarding” the
relationship between a secretary and co-worker, the boss and others even
customers in her working environment should be very cordial in her day to day
dealings. This he said will be compared with that of husband and wife,
lecturers and students parents and their children.
Human
relations is vital because it creates avenue for people to interact with both
in offices and other parastatals because it has an influence over the nature
and manner with which individual work out solutions to the problems in which
they are confronted with.
The
secretary with his or her psychological skills is also expected to understand
different moods of co-workers, customers, the work conditions and how to arrest
difficult situations in the office, how to get the best from his present group
and how to take care of unexpected situation successfully.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEMS
For a good number of reasons,
secretaries in some of our financial institutions have been finding it very
difficult to cope with the performance of their function as it regards to human
relations. This has generated a lot of problems for secretaries.
Some
of the situations are witnessed when an intolerant boss makes a mistake in the
course of his duties with the secretary, but fails to admit such mistakes,
rather he costs the blames on the secretary.
Struggling
to meet up with the demands of these disgust executives as well as maintaining
a good relationship with each other and at the same time keeping up with the
demands of the job is stressful to the secretary.
Again
lack of fact in performing official duties by the secretary constitute a very
big problem, for instance when answering phone calls, secretaries with poor
relationship radiate this attitude to phone callers.
This
equally applied when handling clients affairs, because some secretaries by
their positions in financial institution do not take cognizance of the client
due to inefficiency in their job.
In
that regards Carvel F.J (1972) say “That a problems arises when the boss finds
the secretary sexually attractive. This he says creates room for insolent
secretary and an awkward office relationship now prevails.
In
this regard the researcher will try to find the solutions to these problems as
it affects the secretary.
1.3 THE
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to
1. Highlights the fact that every one in the
course of work comes in close contact with people.
2. Understand the meaning of work and its
impact on people
3. Understand the background and development
of human relations.
4. Understand the impact of human relations
function on job efficiency
5. Understand the role of secretaries in
organization development.
1.4 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The study of the impact of human
relation functions on job performance of secretaries in financial institutions
is such that would have taken the researcher to different parts of the country.
But
as a result of financial problems and time factor the researcher decided to
,limit the study to Enugu Urban.
1.5 SIGNFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The
significance of this study will be of tremendous aid to various institutions of
higher learning in Nigeria, to know the importance of human relations in
organizations. This will go a long way to propelling the various business
organizations in the country to appreciate the need for effective training of
secretaries and staff on human relations.