Simulated Office Activities
An Orientation
The units in this textbook provide information and exercises to assist you in understanding the key tasks of office workers. Office tasks aren't done in isolation. You have already seen that many office tasks are interrelated because you have regularly used knowledge acquired in earlier units as a basis for understanding later units. Indeed, the office worker combines in each assignment many skills and understandings.
The Simulated Office Activities provided in the Supplies Inventory will give you a clearer understanding of how office tasks are interrelated. They will also provide you with an opportunity to plan your work, to make decisions, and to follow the instructions of an employer in a realistic setting. Each of the four Simulated Office Activities will require from two to three hours to complete. All are performed in the same office. Your goal is to complete the assignments just as if you were actually employed in the office and responsible to your employer for your own work. Your teacher may assign one Simulated Office Activity at a time after completing a block of units in the textbook, or all four Simulated Office Activities at the same time, as a major project at the end of the course.
You will find that you have had experience with all of the tasks you are asked to complete. However, you will have to make decisions that go beyond just completing a single assignment. For example, one of your primary decisions will be to determine the order in which you will do a number of tasks based on the importance of each task. You will also have to make decisions about how to arrange materials and what supplies to use. Your decisions in each case will be guided by your knowledge of office procedures.
Your Office Position
You are employed as an office worker for the general manager of the ALL-STAR SPORTING GOODS COMPANY, 5002 Boulder Avenue, Denver, CO 80231. This large retail store carries a wide variety of all-seasons sporting goods for men and women.
Mr. Clark Newsom, the general manager for whom you are working, is responsible for coordinating all store departments so that they work smoothly and effectively together. Mr. Newsom counts on you to be accurate and thorough in your work. You represent Mr. Newsom and ALL-STAR to the public whenever you answer the telephone or greet callers. Mr. Newsom's ability to carry out his responsibilities, and hence the success of the business as a whole, will be affected by how efficiently and diligently you perform your office tasks. As you handle your various office jobs, you will become acquainted with the business activities of this interesting company.
Supplies
Many of the supplies you will need for the four Simulated Office Activities are provided in your Supplies Inventory. Others are easily obtained supplies which you will furnish yourself.