Responses from 55 personnel directors of Fortune 500 companies (15%) found that clerical office professionals should have knowledge of and be able to use facsimile, voice mail, and electronic mail. They recommended that educators and employers form an alliance to ensure that relevant telecommunications concepts are taught. (JOW)

This study was conducted to determine whether previous findings in role perception studies could be extended to a sample of clerical and secretarial employees. Three hypotheses testing the ambiguity-satisfaction relationship and the moderating effects of cohesiveness and degree of routinization in role requirements were examined. (Author/CT)

Interviews with 6 managers and 18 nonmanagers in clerical-administrative positions indicated the following: (1) they saw their role as either intelligent support, technical, advisor, or multiskilled pivotal employee; (2) duties depended on relationships with other workers; and (3) nonmanagers had a narrower vision of competence. (SK)

Examination of production jobs in 93 manufacturing firms (1978-86) and clerical jobs in 211 firms (1978-88) suggests (1) significant upskilling within most production jobs; (2) in clerical jobs, an even split between raised and lowered skill levels; and (3) decreasing skill levels associated with office automation. (SK)