Level of use of electronic communications by administrative office professionals

The purpose of the study was to describe the level of use of electronic communications by administrative office professionals and to investigate the relationships between the level of use of electronic communications and selected environmental and personal factors.;The researcher used a descriptive-correlational research design. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to Ohio members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (n = 312) during October and November 1998. Validity and reliability of the instrument were established.;Descriptive research methods were used to describe the environmental and personal factors associated with an administrative office professional's decision to, use electronic communications. Correlations were used to reveal the relationships between selected environmental and personal factors and electronic communications use. Multiple regression was used to reveal which selected factors determined the unique variance of electronic communications use.;Ninety percent of the administrative office professionals use electronic communications at work, and most have access to e-mail, an intranet, and the World Wide Web. Administrative office professionals have a positive perception of participative management and many job responsibilities.;Administrative office professionals have perceived a relative advantage for using electronic communications at work. However, administrative office professionals are not fully utilizing the resources that electronic communications offers because they may lack the knowledge and skill to use a wider range of electronic communications components.;Formal training of administrative office professionals in the use of electronic communications is the key to success in raising level of electronic communications use. Current administrative office professionals need more formal training, both inside and outside the organization, on the use of electronic communications. Organizations should offer tuition reimbursement for administrative office professionals who pursue formal training about electronic communications outside the organization. The International Association of Administrative Professionals needs to help its members develop proficiency in electronic communications use through meeting programs, workshops, and articles in its publications. Secondary and postsecondary schools need to provide electronic communications training to prepare future administrative office professionals.