Jenn O’Connor Prof. Stearns
BUS 121 Office Management Ch. 1 Review Questions
Due Date: 2/7/09
1. The emerging thrust of administrative office management is actually a knowledge management thrust. While it still involves the information management thrust (creating, processing, storing and retrieving information), it is now shifting more towards managing the organization’s intellectual capital, human resources, and strategic relationships. Essentially this allows the organization to be in a continual state of improvement, with employees sharing their collective knowledge and improving their performance.
2. The factor that is considered to be primarily responsible for the increasing number of career opportunities in administrative office management is the fact that this field provides ever-growing contributions to organizational success. Managers are discovering that profits increase when cost is scrutinized and more efficient work methods and practices are established. These are administrative functions and the need for these functions will increase proportionately to the organizations’ demands for higher efficiency and profits.
3. Some of the challenges administrative office managers are likely to encounter in the future are:
- the ability to cope with change and help others accept the change
- the ability to stay on top of technological advances
- governmental regulations and compliance to these regulations
- organizational productivity
- substandard office systems performance and/or system modifications
- accommodating a more culturally diverse workforce
- globalization
4. The educational qualifications for administrative office managers depends on the specific roles they will be performing, but typically should include a thorough understanding of various business fundamentals. A solid background in such areas as accounting, marketing, management, human resource management, statistics, economics and psychology is desirable. If part of their role involves systems analysis and design, they should also have a thorough understanding of functional areas such as operations, marketing and finance. Knowledge in the following areas is also important: work simplification, work measurement, work standards, records management, forms design, data processing, job analysis and evaluation, office layout, equipment, cost control, performance appraisal, employee selection, productivity improvement and word processing. Other important qualifications include leadership, good work ethics, the ability to delegate, effective decision making and communication skills, good judgement, open mindedness, initiative and the desire to continue to learn and develop professionally.
5. An excellent way for an administrative office manager to further his/her professional development is by participating in professional organizations and associations and earning certifications. There is also a multitude of professional literature available to administrative office managers.
6. During the scientific management movement, the technique or process that was
