Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in existence since World War II though it is still largely a novel phenomenon in most developing countries (Stuart J. etal; 2010). This research assessed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the corporate secretary’s job and determined whether this could be a threat or opportunity. The objectives were to determine the understanding and impact of AI in Business Administration, to bring to the fore secretarial jobs that could be eradicated by the avalanche of AI, to identify the critical competences of the secretary and to determine the extent to which AI could be an opportunity or threat for the secretary. This study used descriptive qualitative methodology; questionnaires were distributed to 15 Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants plus 15 managers. The participants were conveniently sampled from Harare Polytechnic. This research proposed new competencies of professional secretary that need to be strengthened, specifically in the areas of the digitalization and automation secretarial administrative tasks, management office information system, data analysis, communication, and public relations function.

Key words:

Artificial Intelligence, Secretary, Jobs, Threat, Opportunity, Business Administration

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in existence since World War II though it is still largely a novel phenomenon in most developing countries (Stuart J. etal; 2010). This research assessed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the corporate secretary’s job and determined whether this could be a threat or opportunity. The objectives were to determine the understanding and impact of AI in Business Administration, to bring to the fore secretarial jobs that could be eradicated by the avalanche of AI, to identify the critical competences of the secretary and to determine the extent to which AI could be an opportunity or threat for the secretary. This study used descriptive qualitative methodology; questionnaires were distributed to 15 Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants plus 15 managers. The participants were conveniently sampled from Harare Polytechnic. This research proposed new competencies of professional secretary that need to be strengthened, specifically in the areas of the digitalization and automation secretarial administrative tasks, management office information system, data analysis, communication, and public relations function.

Key words:

Artificial Intelligence, Secretary, Jobs, Threat, Opportunity, Business Administration