Abstract
The purpose of this research was to establish the administrative professional's role in the
processing, retrieval, dissemination and repackaging of digital information in the networked
enterprise, and to determine how the administrative professional can add value to the
organisation and enhance its competitive position in industry.
The digital economy has changed business practices to such an extent that research of
the digital office environment and the administrative professional’s role in this new world of
work has become necessary. This research subsequently aimed to clarify the
administrative professional’s role as an information specialist in the organisation.
The following sub-questions were formulated for this project:
· What is the current profile of the administrative professional in the organisation?
· What changes have taken place in the digital environment?
· What are the current technological and information systems skills of the
administrative professional?
· How can the administrative professional add value to the enterprise in the digital
environment?
The profile of the administrative professional in the organisation was discussed with
specific reference to the history, duties and etymology of the administrative professional.
The traditional methods of handling information flow were also investigated.
The digital environment was also evaluated. It was found that due to rapid changes in the
digital environment, employers’ key expectations of their administrative staff were also
changing. Research conducted indicated that employers expect administrative
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professionals to be skilled in new and emerging technologies and show a high degree of
information management skills. New Information management skills were evaluated within
the framework of information systems available in the networked enterprise. These
statements were evaluated and the following aspects amongst others discussed:
· The way that the enterprise conducts business in the digital economy.
· The latest information technology advances and trends.
· Information infrastructure and architecture.
· Management of information sources in the enterprise.
· Strategic information systems necessary for competitive advantage.
· The Web revolution.
· Developments in electronic commerce (EC).
· The different organisational applications.
· Knowledge Management (KM).
· Managerial systems and decision support systems (DSS).
· Data management such as warehousing, analysing, mining, and visualisation.
· Intelligent support systems.
· The management of information resources and security.
The statements that the administrative professional’s roles have changed through the use
of computers, the Web, and other advanced office technologies to perform vital information
management functions in the modern office, have been empirically studied and proven to
be correct.
Information and communications technology (ICT) has become the major launch pad of
business activities in the world and causes fundamental shifts in the management
structure and the operations procedures in enterprises. In the light of these changes, the
researcher empirically justified the specific skills and abilities of the contemporary
administrative professional. This was done through an emphasis on managerial
perceptions about the role of the administrative professional.
The importance of the administrative professional’s ability to provide the correct
information in a context that aids decision-making was examined. The level of awareness
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of emerging information and communications technology tools and techniques that is
regarded as necessary by the manager was evaluated.
Prof. P. A. van Brakel