From a societal perspective, vocational education and training must enable young adults to meet the challenges of the labour market in a globalized world, reduce the mismatch of supply and demand of qualifications (e.g. youth unemployment leading to disadvantages for individuals, society and national economies) and improve social cohesion. From an…

Phenomenographic analysis of written statements of 52 clerical-administrative workers revealed five distinct conceptions of competence: (1) basic skills; (2) essential knowledge about a job; (3) personal attributes; (4) efficient work; and (5) flexible, holistic thinking. (SK)

A brief look at the basic clerical skills required of clerical staff if they are to deal efficiently with data handling operations. (AA)

Increased skills enable clerical workers to take advantage of job opportunities in both the human service agencies and the private sector. A model program instituted by McGraw-Hill is described as one training program which assists anti-poverty agencies. Motivational counseling reduces the drop-out rate. The article includes an outline of a format…

Details on the nature of the work of administrative support personnel, employment opportunities, qualifications, salaries, and preparation are given. Positions include word processing operator, secretary, executive secretary/administrative assistant, file clerk, clerk typist, and stenographer. (CT)

Braverman and others argue that capitalism continues to degrade and deskill work. The author presents theoretical, empirical, and methodological criticisms that highlight methodological weaknesses in the deskilling approach. (SK)

Explores skills needed by staff in the automated office; skills needed by administrative support personnel; and skills needed by executives and managers. Also makes recommendations for updating classroom equipment. (CT)

A survey of 52 administrators and clerical-administrative personnel in Australia found that clerical training was acquired largely on the job; only one-third regularly update skills; 39.3% perceived assessment to be competency based; and a focus on technical skills was counter to employers' emphasis on interpersonal/communication skills. (SK)

Responses form 408 of 673 administrative support personnel at 6 financial institutions revealed a large percentage proficient only in text-related computer technology; few could use spreadsheet, database, or graphics applications. Higher skill levels correlated with perceptions of job enrichment. It appears information technology is not being used…

Methods to help students develop the ability to plan, organize, and control are suggested. These include a simulation in which an office procedures class plans, organizes, and holds a meeting and involves such details as selecting and reserving rooms, scheduling speakers, preparing agendas, planning budgets, preparing name tags, and arranging a…

A project was conducted to identify the technical, human, and conceptual skills needed by clerical, managerial, and professional personnel to utilize information technology effectively. The methodology, results, and implications are presented. A second phase of the project--the validation of these job skills--is being conducted presently. (CT)

A sample of 576 clerical workers completed occupational inventory booklets showing tasks performed and the time spent performing them. In addition, clerical workers, supervisors, and business teachers rated the learning difficulty of each task. The catalog of performance objectives prepared from the data can be used to develop career-relevant…

This paper describes some mathematical situations met by young people in the first year or two of their work as junior clerks or business technicians. These are compared and contrasted with the engineering side of industry, with discussion of some possible implications for schools. (Author/MK)

The recordkeeping-accounting competencies in business education curriculums should be those needed by all prospective office workers, not just bookkeepers. A task inventory booklet (developed by the Vocational Technical Education Consortium of States) completed by incumbent office workers showed that some of the recordkeeping-accounting tasks…