Modern Office Technology Competencies Expected of Office Technology and Management (OTM) Graduate Workers in Delta State.

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the modern office technology competencies expected of office technology and management (OTM) graduate workers by supervisors in Delta State. The study was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. The respondents consisted of 142 supervisors, made up of 74 heads of department and directors of government establishments, and 68 managers and directors of private establishments in the study area. Descriptive survey research design was used to conduct the study and 28 – items questionnaire were used to collect data from respondents. The instrument was validated by three experts and had a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.77. Means with standard deviations were used to answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses. The extent of supervisor‟s expectations of information processing competencies did not differ significantly based on the mean ratings of male and female supervisors of OTM graduates in government and private establishments. The findings also revealed that supervisors expect much information processing and communication competencies from the OTM graduate workers. Based on the findings and the implications, it was recommended among others that, curriculum planners, business and OTM education lecturers should ensure that the competencies required for modern office technologies are entrenched and taught in the institutions to prepare the OTM graduates for the world of work.