The Changing Business Environment: Implications for Vocational Curricula. State-of-the-Art Paper.

The widespread use of the micro/personal computer and related technological advancements are having important impacts on information management in the modern electronic office. Some of the most common software applications include word processing, spread sheet analysis, data management, graphics, and communications. Ancillary hardware/software systems being used in offices to improve information management are optical character recognition, facsimile, laser copier/printer, fiber optics, microform/computer systems, networking, and dictating systems. Two other basic concepts emerging from the implementation of the micro/personal computer in business are ergonomics and the information center. Excerpts from leading business journals and independent consultants provide evidence of the importance and acceptance of electronic technologies, savings in office costs through the use of electronic technologies, the growth of computer technologies in the workplace, and the importance of the human factor in this new electronic age. Educational implications from this changing office environment include: (1) computer literacy is essential; (2) everyone should be taught the sight method of keyboarding skill; (3) students should be trained for a grouping of career-related positions; and (4) major revisions are needed at all levels of business education, teacher education, and office administration. (YLB)