INTRODUCTION.

1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Over the past twenty years, the role of secretary has expanded dramatically as the technological revolution has made its impact on business environment and thereby strengthening the viability and corporate existence of small, medium and large scale business as well as industries through her experience of the profession. In the past, the secretarial profession has often been criticized for its incompetence and effectiveness. Secretaries were seen as lazy-bones, second-rates , spinsters, dragons or blander bimbos. Fortunately today the profession has gained a healthier reputation. Secretaries are respected for their skills and their professionalism. It is no longer such a female-dominated environment, with a growing proportion of male secretaries being accepted in the business environment.

Historically, people drifted into secretarial work after studying basic tyoing and typing, often beginning in the typing pool and progressing from junior to senior secretaries. Then to personal assistant. The job is planned and designed that no matter a secretary’s level of degree – ND, HND or BSC he/she must be assigned to a boss before carrying out his or her duties. Despite the fact that a secretary holds a valuable position an essential piece of the corporate bigsaw, there is certainly no or little opportunity for advancement beyond the limited secretarial world compared to other profession such as Accountancy, Legal and medical etc. They are more ambitions, looking for a career and not just a job. Those who join the secretarial ranks are frequently seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career in which establishing a retail business house. A secretarial career as such to offer. It is a self-satisfying role or stepping-stone to gain extensive knowledge of an organization or firm before moving into a different area. It is a logical starting point for those seeking a career in administration, communication or public relation, thus creating room for self-employment.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Retail business house can play a vital role in providing employment opportunities for secretaries. This has been a problem because it is believed that the secretarial job has secretary’s level of degree ND, HND, or BSC in secretarial studies, he/she must be assigned to a boss and progressing first from junior to senior secretary, then to personal assistant. There is certainly no opportunity for advancement beyond the secretarial world compare to other professions. Thus there is inferiority complex among colleagues with the same level of degree and no plans or motivations for self-employment. There researcher therefore attempted in this work to find out the roles of retail business house in providing employment for secretaries in Enugu urban.

1.3       PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of the study is to find out the role of retail house in providing employment for secretaries in Enugu urban. Specifically, the study is to determine the following

1. Determine the traditional role of retail business houses in Enugu urban

2. Find out if secretaries perform any of the roles

3. Find out if those retail business houses value the roles perform by secretaries

4. Find out how often this retail business houses employ secretaries to perform those roles

5. To find out if secretaries are interested in performing their roles.

1.4  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study

1. What traditional roles do secretaries perform in Retail Business House in Enugu urban

2. What roes do secretaries perform in Retail business house in Enugu urban

3. To what extent do the retail business houses value the role perform by secretaries.

4. How often do retail business houses employ secretaries

5. How far are the secretaries interested in the role they play in retail business houses.

1.5   SIGNFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is to expose to the society that secretaries are in the best positions in handling retail business houses, thus it plays a vital role in providing employment for secretaries in Enugu urban. Since they are trained as professionals in secretarial field. The study intends to educate the secretaries in the need to embark on employment provided by the retail business houses. The reason for this study is to erase the erroneous public perception that secretarial personnel are subordinate and lazy workers and certainly have no opportunities for advancement beyond the limited secretarial world. Moreover, secretaries are to be respected for their skills and professionalism, seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career in administration, communication or public relation by seeking self-employment in retail business houses. Also, the study will be useful for further research work by secretarial students.

1.7    ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

The following assumption were made in the study

1. If Retail business houses are many in Enugu urban they will need the services of secretaries.

2. If services of secretaries are valuable to retail business houses in Enugu urban, they would need secretaries to perform their functions

3. If the retail business houses are successful in their business, they will be need for their expansions, thereby requiring the services of secretaries.

1.8   DEFINITION OF TERMS

ROLE: The function or position that somebody has or is expected to have in an organization in the society or relationship

BIMBO: A young person, usually a woman who is sexually attractive, but not intelligent

ORGANIZATION: This is a corporate business setting with a collection of workers that are arranged in bureau tic manner with every employee given an assigned role to play in their area of specialization

CAREER: Is the period of time that one spend in one’s life working or doing a particular thing.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT: Is the act of working for yourself and not employed by a company.

ENTERPRENEURSHIP: Is a person who makes money by starting or running business, especially when this involves taking financial risks.

RETAIL BUSINESS HOUSE: Is where goods produced by manufacturers are being sold or handle to people in a small quantity instead of bulk.