ABSTRACT

This research work “The effects of poor office environment on the secretary’s job performance” was carried out with the overall aim of fining out the effects of poor office environment on the secretary’s job performance.

Institute of Management and Technology was used as a case study.  The data for this study was collected through the use of questionnaire and observation methods.  The administered questionnaire were analyzed in tabular forms using simple percentages.  The outcome of the study proved that the depressing and stimulating nature of most offices have a few-reaching negative effects on the overall job performance of secretaries.  Equally small floor space and congested nature of some offices does not give the secretaries adequate comfort and balance to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.  Other problems included poor remunerations, lack of necessary equipment and noise proof devices in most of the offices.  Based on these findings the researcher recommended that:

i. Offices should be stimulating and comfortably furnished so as to encouraged productivity and boast the moral of the secretary.

ii. There should be enough floor space and if possible separate rooms to avoid over crowding and cluster of materials which make an office to look shabby and depressed.

iii. The management of the Institute should establish a pension scheme and adequate remuneration to its workers and in particular the secretary in order to boast their moral and encourage them to stay in their section.

iv. Equally necessary office equipment and stationery should be provided to the secretary.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Title page i

Approval page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents vi

Abstract x

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Objectives of the study 3

1.4 Significance of the study 4

1.5 Research questions 5

1.6 Scope / delimitation 5

1.7 Definition of terms 6

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Review of related literature 8

2.1 The concept and definition of office and office environment 10

2.2 The secretary and her office duties 12

2.3 Human relations in the office 13

2.4 The secretary and other members of staff relationship 15

2.5 The physical office environment 17

2.6 Ventilation 18

2.7 Lighting 20

2.8 Heating 23

2.9 Interior decoration and furnishing 24

2.10 Music conditioning 31

2.11 Noise – proof / control 33

2.12 Office space/accommodation 35

2.13 Safety measures 38

2.14 Effects of secretary’s performance due to poor 

office environment 40

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology and design 41

3.1 Research design 41

3.2 Area of study 41

3.3 Population of the study 42

3.4 Sample and sampling procedures 42

3.5 Instruments for data collection 43

3.6 Validity of the instrument 44

3.7 Reliability of the research instrument 44

3.8 Method of administration of the research instrument 45

3.9 Method of data analysis 45

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data 47

CHAPTER FIVE

Findings, recommendations and conclusion 63

5.1 Findings 63

5.2 Conclusion 65

5.3 Implication of the results 65

5.4 Recommendations 66

5.5 Area for further studies 68

References 69

Appendices 71