Treffer: Word Processing Competencies.

Research indicates that people tend to use only five percent of the capabilities available in word processing software. The major objective of this study was to determine to what extent word processing was used by businesses, what competencies were required by those businesses, and how those competencies were being learned in Mid-South states. A questionnaire was mailed to selected human resource managers in the metropolitan statistical areas of Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Of the 81 usable questionnaires returned, all 81 of the respondents were currently using word processing software packages. WordPerfect was most commonly used, by 62 businesses, followed by 28 using Microsoft Word, and 15 using Q & A. Departments using word processing were: personnel and human resources (33.3%); company-wide (42.0%); administrative (33.3%); accounting (32.1%); and marketing and sales (18.5%). Primary word processing applications used included: letters (96.3%); memos (92.6%); reports (91.4%); envelopes and labels (81.5%); tables (75.3%); newsletters (66.7%); columnar text (64.2%); and electronic mail (45.7%). In responding to what employees who use word processing need to know, 93.8% indicated that basic formatting was the most needed skill, followed by: speller/thesaurus (85.2%); move/copy (79.0%); file (75.3%); disk maintenance (72.8%); graphics (34.6%); and macros (27.2%). Of the businesses using word processing, 50.6% indicated that word processing knowledge was highly desirable in prospective employees; 38.3% indicated that it was desirable. The following 12 tables of data are provided: word processing software used; word processing applications; built-in functions; word processing knowledge areas; file management competencies; format competencies; insert and delete competencies; key competencies; miscellaneous competencies; table competencies; factors considered in selecting software; and type of responding business. (Contains 19 references.) (MAS)