Publication Date

1971

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Crank, Floyd L.||Crank, Doris H.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Business Education

LCSH

Business education--Illinois--Crystal Lake

Abstract

This study was undertaken for the purpose of surveying local businesses in the Crystal Lake area as a means of evaluating and making possible changes in the course content of the office practice, typewriting, and shorthand classes at Crystal Lake High School. The data gathered for this study were obtained by a questionnaire survey of 190 businesses and industries in the Crystal Lake area. The population of the survey was comprised of 190 businessmen who were members of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce as of December, 1970. An analysis of the data provided the following major findings: 1. Employers indicated a typing speed requirement of 50 words per minute for an applicant for a beginning typist position, 60 words per minute for a beginning stenographic applicant, and 40 words per minute for an applicant for a beginning receptionist position. 2. Approximately seventy-five per cent of the employers who responded to the questionnaire indicated a desire for an employee with a knowledge of shorthand. 3. General office, typist, and file clerk jobs represented the majority of positions available as beginning positions for high school graduates. Of the 100 businessmen responding to this question, 67 per cent indicated that they would hire applicants immediately following high school graduation. 4. Approximately sixty-seven per cent of the 106 respondents did not provide an in-service training program for office workers. Employers providing an in-service training program, did so in the records management and filing areas. 5. Employers, indicating the degree of importance placed on certain factors during the personal interview, considered dependability to be very important (97.2 per cent). According to 87 per cent of the employers, experience was of moderate or little importance. 6. Credit memos, invoices, and statement of accounts were the business forms used most frequently in offices in the Crystal Lake area. Twenty-nine per cent of the 101 respondents to this question indicated the use of telegrams. 7. Typewriters (both electric and manual) and the 10-key adding listing machines account for the majority of office machines used by employees. Thirty-eight businessmen indicated that they are using the rotary calculator, 17 are using the ditto machine, and 8 businessmen are still using the mimeograph. Based upon the data generated by this study, the following implications for curriculum change were presented for consideration: 1. Allow corrections to be made on assignments; but stress neatness, proofreading, and turning out an accurate piece of work. 2. Eliminate the unit on telegrams in the office practice and typewriting classes. 3. Place emphasis on the 10-key adding listing machine and the electronic calculator in office machines instruction. 4. Add more electric typewriters; but do not eliminate all manual machines. Retain a reasonable balance between pica- and elite- type machines. 5. Add a unit on human relations to the present course offerings in office practice. 6. Stress the importance of personal characteristics such as dependability, initiative, punctuality, and good grooming in all classes.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

iv, 47 pages, 3 unnumbered pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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