The function of the office is to perform administrative work. First it must provide the necessary communications with customers, banks, government departments, and other outside organizations. Second, it must serve the information requirements within the company itself.{{U}} (9) {{/U}}, the Office Manager must employ the most appropriate business methods, system and equipment.
In an efficient administrative structure, clerical operations are organized so that they add to the profitability of the business.{{U}} (10) {{/U}}while the total number of workers employed in production has fallen. In Britain, for example, the total workforce in the years 1919-- 1976 went up by 24%, while the number of people who were employed in clerical work increased by 150%. For a country such as Britain,{{U}} (11) {{/U}}, that can mean inefficiency.
To ensure that office services run smoothly, there must be the means to check, sort, copy and file correspondence and other paperwork.{{U}} (12) {{/U}}, The size and resources of a company will determine how mechanized or computerized its office systems are.
{{U}} (13) {{/U}}. A balance must be kept between production, marketing, and administration. As a company develops and grows, the contribution of administration will vary in kind and in value.
The most important objective in modern offices is the processing of data in order to provide a means of business control, but in many companies there are weaknesses in the ability to manage communications efficiently. For example, some data are often used only by individual managers, and{{U}} (14) {{/U}}. In order to contribute to business efficiency, however, data processing must be a centralized service. The system which is required is one that looks at the total needs of a business and therefore assists management in making appropriate decisions quickly.
A. in order to meet these needs efficiently
B. the office must give maximum service at maximum cost
C. the office must give maximum service at minimum cost
D. different departments in the same company may use different data processing systems
E. which depends on a manufacturing base
F. today there is a growing range of machines that can be used to do such jobs
G. so that the office manager will try to solve this problem
H. however, in many countries the number of clerical staff has increased