Office Practices Course

LEARN ABOUT BASIC OFFICE OPERATIONS

This course provides invaluable information for anyone who has never worked in an office environment before.  It will guide you through the basics and enable you to work in an organisational office, or set up your own.

Lesson Structure

There are 6 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Scope of office work, procedures, the home office vs commercial premises, etc.
2. Communication Systems
   • Using the phone, business letters, faxes, couriers, postage, etc.
3. Writing Letters and Reports
   • Structure of a report, memos, writing business letters.
4. Computers
   • Scope & uses of computers, types of computers, software types, peripherals, word processing, CD Roms, Modems, setting up and care of a PC.
5. Office Materials and Equipment
   • Stationary, Office furniture, Paper specifications, Filing & record keeping etc.
6. Office Organization and Procedures
   • Office layout and organization, security.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Determine the upper and lower limit of what it might be likely to cost you to set up a new office.
• Determine the price range of different items of equipment and materials.
• Explain postal systems used in a business, Design a memorandum form.
• Create a MS Access Database
• Design a filing system.
• Design a work schedule suitable for a specific workplace.
• Design a security system that can be implemented in a work situation.
• Design a layout for an office situation.

What You Will Do

• Make a list of essential equipment, stationery and other materials.
• Visit an office supply company.
• Collect catalogues or price lists for different products available.
• Compare the implications of having an office at home with leasing, buying or using a serviced office.
• Explain applications to use and apply the following office equipment:
  • computers
  • mobile phones
  • printers
  • email
  • fax
  • scanners
• Report on the range of systems covering:
  • couriers
  • postage
  • scanners
  • electronic banking
  • mobile phones
  • rail services
• Write a letter applying for this job.
• Write a letter from an organisation (real or imaginary) to another organisation.
• Ask your local computer supplier about virus removal software and hardware.
• Compile a table of 10 computer systems.
• What roles can computers play in business?
• Contact or visit various stationery supplies to find out about what materials are available.
• Write a report about how to design a filing system suitable for your area of work.
• Inspect various offices to see how they are utilising space and storage.
• Contact various suppliers of office furniture to see what furniture is available.