Analysing the preparedness of Office Management & Technology graduates for multitasking in the workplace

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted in relation to the preparedness of students for the workplace and particularly the role of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in this preparation. However, fewer have specifically investigated the Office Management and Technology (OMT) student’s preparedness for multitasking in the workplace, and none have been found to investigate this within a South African University of Technology.

The literature indicates that there are major causes for the increased use of multitasking1 in the business workplace: the nature of work, working environment and skills required from employees by organisations have now developed and expanded. The office administrator in today’s electronic office has to cope with a wide variety of electronic devices which often need to be used simultaneously and their work covers many more skills than were required in the past. Students with Office Management and Technology qualifications are now employed as office administrators, senior secretaries, and even as assistant managers. They are expected to have the ability to execute all duties that are within their job description and sometimes beyond their job description, and to be able to handle them within a limited time. Administrators who have multitasking skills are therefore preferred by employers and the literature shows that the multitasking skill is regarded as one of the most sought-after skills in the workplace.

The purpose of this case study was therefore to investigate the preparedness of Office Management and Technology students for multitasking in the workplace. To achieve a complete analysis the study used a mixed methods approach involving three questionnaires with both closed and open-ended questions, administered to 3rd year students who have had WIL experience; B Tech students /recent employees to provide

Multitasking has been defined as the ability to undertake competently more than one task at the same time and multitasking success as ‘the ability to draw on a wide range of cognitive functions when acting to achieve multiple goals’ (Peterson, 2014:22).

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a different perspective of experience gained; as well as WIL Supervisors who have supervised OMT students while on WIL.

Analysis of data revealed that students require additional knowledge before they go on WIL training to prepare them for multitasking, with a better understanding of the office environment. The study concluded that a curriculum upgrade is required involving increased use of practicals at undergraduate level, and that the universities need to work more closely with companies to determine what skills they require from Office Management and Technology students when they reach employment. The study recommends that the identified gaps should be addressed in order to improve students’ knowledge and to upgrade their skills in multitasking and in time management in order to improve their performance in the workplace.