1.1 Background to the Study
Modern automation in every organization has always been net with awe, fear, uncertainty and in some extreme cases, rejection or sabotage. Modern automation in this study refers to new technologies such as computers, and so on etc. the introduction of sophisticated office technology equipment like computers, word processors and other information technology resources coupled with new management techniques have completely changed old work habits in the office and triggered off a new business orientation thus making moribund the older method of business transaction.
According to Okute (1972) cited in Okoli (2010:1). Information communication Technology is concerned with the aspect of managing and processing information through the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieve information. It is the handling and processing of information for use by means of electronic and communication gadgets such as computers, cameras, telephones etc.
According to Atakpa (2000) cited in Nwaizu (2012:9) stated that public service functions everywhere in the world, it has undergone a lot of technical changes. As a result, modern office equipment which gives the public servants the opportunity to increase her efficiency abound. Many office functions and secretarial duties which were previously done manually have been mechanized. Thus, the diversities of those office technologies requires the secretary to possess new skills and sub skills to enable him/her to be relevant in the modern office.
ICT has changed the equipment and work groups, of course; nobody today would like to work in an office where information processing and other secretarial activities are done manually or mechanically. So the mechanized office is gradually given way to the automated office. Investment in networks of computer-based workstations and other automated equipment is transferring traditional manual office methods and paper communications media. This transformation has resulted in the development of automated systems that rely on electronic collaboration and communication networks, text processing, image processing and other information and communication technologies.
According to Okwuanaso (2009) cited in Obayi (2004:9), information communication technology has posed challenges to public servants as they communicate in the present day office. In the past, secretaries functions were performed manually such as that documents and records were maintained on papers stored in files and drawers. The consequences of global development in the modern information and communication technology area calls for corresponding development of new- skills in office managers. Information is a basic resource in today’s society. We are living in a global information society, with a global economy that is increasingly dependant on the creation, management and distribution of information resources. People in many nations no longer live in agricultural societies, composed primarily of farmers, or even industrial societies, where a majority of the workforce consists of factory workers. Instead, the workforce in many nations consists primarily of workers in service occupation or knowledge workers, that is, people who spend most of their workday creating, using and distributing information. Today, the information and communication technology revolution has dramatically changed all these and is moving quickly towards changing the work itself. The following are the modern ICT devices found in most offices for secretarial functions. They are electronic computers with modern office accessories or packages and internet facilities for on-line communication and collaboration, computer printers, plotters, digit-memo, fax machine, photo-copier, Digital video camera, close circuit television, large screen video projector, etc. similarly, the days of relying primarily on ICT professional to meet our information processing needs are over. Today’s public servants are expected to use networked micro computers as professional institutions to acquire the information they need to accomplish their jobs successfully.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Communication technologies are new innovations in offices that enable the discharge of office functions more rapidly and efficiently. The emergence of office technologies in modern day organizations has challenged the occupational skills of the employees including the public servants. Hence these communication technologies have recently revolutionized office skills and rendered some skills such as transcription skills, typing on the manual typewriter obsolete and has also given rise to previously unknown skills such as webpage design, desktop publishing, networking, internet skills etc; in modern organizations. This development has obviously challenged the skills and functions of public servants. Again these advancements in communication technologies has led to the need for civil servants to reposition themselves in other to continue to be relevant in their performance of office functions as well as cope with the trend of technologies changes in today’s modern offices.
The modern world of high technology could not have come about except for the development of computer information technology has opened up a new era in managing information and communication through the techniques of automation and this has enhanced communication systems. Information technology has made public servant’s job more competitive. One of the main causes of poor performance among public servants in most organizations is their abject lack of communication technology skills as high lightened above. Many of them do not posses communication technology skills required in the various offices and have continued to negatively affect their general performances. Lack of skills in the area of webpage design, desktop publishing office application, networking, proficiency in accessing the internet, etc, among public servants in government offices, this have often been a source of worry to the management of such organizations. Eze (2011:14) maintains that any office worker of today that is lacking inn information communication technology would be boring, repetitive and would produce very little. Public servants have to get themselves acquainted on how to operate new office automation such as information storage systems, the internet and other new software packages. In view of the aforementioned problems the researcher tends to study those communication technology skills required by public servants in their various offices and the influence they have on their job performances.
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to investigate into the challenges of modern automation on the job performance of public servants. Specifically the study sought to:
1.5 Significance of the Study
At the successful completion of this work, it will be at of the following benefits to the following parties:
Management of organization: This study will help them realize the effects of organizational re-engineering and performance on public servants and how best to carry out their change process so it will not affect the job performance of public servant negatively.
This study will reveal the importance of automation to public servants duties and how automation will help them achieve superior job performance, thereby helping the embrace the automated system.
This study will also serve as a ready reference material and guide in studying related topics.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of ICT is a very wide one that covers office automation, transaction processing, management reporting, decision support system, ICT for strategic competitive advantage, etc. this study however, restricts itself to office technology skills required by today’s public servant in carrying out his/her duties in a modern office environment. The scope will focus on modern automation on the job performance of public servants, focusing mainly on Federal Polytechnic, Oko because the researcher lacks adequate time and finance to carry out a wider study.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
The researcher was faced with a number of constraints during the course of the work. Time constraints are also a limiting factor in undertaking this study. The limiting factors are that of availability of data which might be difficult to obtain following the trend of the attitude of Nigerians with regards to giving out information.
1.8 Operationalization/Definition of Terms
MODERN AUTOMATION: The introduction of new age technologies in an organization, such as computers and other electronic and digital equipment.
JOB PERFORMMANCE: How well or badly an employee does his work.
PUBLIC SERVANT: Persons employed in organization to play supporting roles like managing, records keeping, organizing and correspondence.
WORKERS: Workers employed in organization who work towards achieving the organizational set objective.
1.9 Organization of the Study
This contains how the study was organized and conducted, the chapters in this research study will be sequenced and organized to achieve the research objectives, in this project “Modern automation on job performance of public servants (A study of Federal Polytechnic, Oko)”.
Chapter one is all about the background of the automation on job performance of public servants, the statement of the problem, the research questions that was gathered, the purpose, the significance, the scope and limitations of the study, defining the terms used in this project.
Chapter two, the literature review is a text of a scholarly paper which includes the current knowledge, substantive findings on this project topic. It establishes as a link between the theoretical framework provides the background that supports the investigation and offers the reader a justification for the study of this research problem.
Chapter three, this involves the research methodology, research design, area and population of the study, sampling techniques, method of data collection, instruments for data collection, reliability and validity of the instruments distribution and retrieval of instruments and finally method of data analysis.
Chapter four, this contains the discussions (analysis) supported with data gathered from both primary and secondary sources.
Chapter five, this contains the summary., the conclusion and the recommendations.