INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In any organization, time is related very high a secretary that does not work with time can not be productive in an office. So the secretary must know how to manage her time properly as well as that of her boss to be able to achieve the organization’s set goals. Time can be described by Bhatia (2002) as the one commodity that is unbiased, available to all in equal amounts. It does not cost anything monetarily and it is completely of our own disposal. We never seem to have enough of it and it is not possible to achieve it once used. Time wasting on the other hand has been observed as the major cause of secretary’s poor performance on the job. Good secretaries are those who can manage themselves as well as others. Time according to Bennelt (2001) is the inexplicable raw material of everything. Time can be given different definitions. In a day of 24 hours, sometimes we hear some people say that the day is too slow while others say that it is fast. Even a year can be said to be long or short. It is a popular saying that time is money. Invariably, it is important that time should be properly utilized or well managed. Mackenzie (1995) asserted that an efficient secretary arranges her day’s work according to priority in order to meet up with the boss’s target, thereby achieving greater results in the work place. Aromalaran (2003). Identified time waster as those vices which prevent office workers from accomplishing desired goals at the appropriate time. A good secretary is one that always accepts responsibilities without grumbling and should be able to carry out work without supervision whether directly or indirectly.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The researcher in the course of her discussion with some secretaries discovered that a lot of them close very late from their offices due to heavy workload which however spill over the next working day. This problem arouse due to the inability of some secretaries to plan their work in order of priority. This observation brought about the need to examine the roles being played by secretaries in improving their performance, thereby achieving the organizational set goals and objectives.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this research is to investigate erratically the effect of time management on the performance of secretaries in an organization. Specifically, the study attempted: (1) To examine the methods secretaries can use to organize themselves and manage their time in first bank Plc and Keystone bank Plc, Imo State. (2) To ascertain the extent to which poor self organization and time management can affect job performance of secretaries in first bank and keystone bank Plc Imo State. (3) To examine the factors that contributes to time wasting in first bank and keystone bank Plc, Imo State. (4) To ascertain how secretaries perform them administrative job alongside their routine secretarial duties in first Bank and Keystone Bank Plc, Imo State.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS (1) What are the methods secretaries can use to organize themselves and mange their time? (2) To what extent can poor self organization and time management affect job performance of secretaries. (3) What are the factors that contribute to time wasting? (4) How do secretaries perform their administrative job alongside their routines secretarial duties?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study could be of great important to secretaries in both the public and private sectors as well as business men generally, administrators and to government functionaries engaged in one form of activity or the other. The knowledge acquired from this study will enhance secretaries’ job performance and will also improve their knowledge on how to manage their time effectively and reduce their time wastage. The study would be of immense importance to both management and staff of first bank and keystone bank Plc, Imo State.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study was restricted to self organization and time management needed for modern secretaries and there was no attempt to go outside them.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The researcher encountered a few constraints during the process of the research. The researcher encountered the problem of fund in carrying out the research. Another constraint was the reluctance of some respondents to give information because they did not believe the assurance given

them that the data collected were purely for academic purposes. The timing of the study posed some constraints because the researcher could not make a thorough search due to time frame needed for the project. However, it is unlikely that these constraints would adversely affect the validity of the findings.