SECRETARIAL SKILLS, MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS AND SECRETARIES’JOB EFFECTIVENESS IN PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

This study examined the perceived influence of secretarial skills and motivational tools as predictors of secretaries’ job effectiveness in private organizations in Ogun State of Nigeria. Four research questions and four hypotheses were answered and tested. Descriptive survey design was used. The population of the study comprised secretaries of private organizations in Ogun State, Nigeria. Using multi-stage sampling technique, a sample of 250 secretaries was chosen across registered private organizations in Ogun State Nigeria using simple random sampling technique. This represents 12.78% of the population. Researcher-developed instrument; tagged: ‘Secretarial Skills Questionnaire (SSQ), Motivational Tools Questionnaire (MTQ) and Secretaries Job Effectiveness Questionnaire (SJEQ) with 0.81 reliability coefficient was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used for analysing research question 1. Research questions 2, 3 and 4 were analysed using regression analysis. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were tested using t-test. Hypotheses 3 and 4 were tested using PPMC. All the analyses were conducted at.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that communication skills, analytical/research skills, flexibility/adaptability/managing multiple priorities skills, multicultural sensitivity/awareness skills, planning/organizing skills, result-driven skills, problem-solving/reasoning/creativity skills, interpersonal skills, innovation skills, self-improvement skills, interpersonal relationship skills and information and communication technology skills were among the indicators of secretaries job effectiveness in private organizations in Ogun State of Nigeria. There was significant relationship between secretarial skills and secretaries’ job effectiveness in private organizations in Ogun State of Nigeria. The findings also showed there was significant relationship between motivational tools and secretaries’ job effectiveness in private organizations in Ogun State of Nigeria. It was recommended that there should be periodic upward review of secretaries’ wages/salaries and other fringe benefits through collective bargaining process. The economic realities of the time should be considered during the process. The issue of paying regular salaries to secretaries’ should be considered as a priority by the private organization.