The complexities at business activities are increasing day-by-day. An office is a vital segment of any commercial enterprise. An office may be small or large according to the size of the concern. In olden days, all the jobs of the organisation had been done mostly by the proprietors.

If the work was more, two or three persons were to be appointed. They sat in small rooms and worked in poorly lighted and congested places. There were no modern office amenities as today; clerks were found copying letters tiresomely turning leather bound registers etc.

Since the typewriters had not come into general use, most of the office work had to be performed manually and clerks would be found in spending most of their time in copying letters for dispatch to customers. All the internal ‘and external communications were performed through human agency.

The telephones and intercom systems were not generally in use. The proprietor of a business would be found sitting in the office room and supervising the office work. He personally deals with the customers and visitors. In earlier period, production was generally from a limited number

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“A well organized office makes it possible for the management to plan its operations intelligently, to put its plans into effect surely, to follow their progress currently, to determine their effectiveness promptly, to apprise their result without delay and to co-ordinate all the activities of the business.” of raw materials, that too available locally, and marketing the products was also, in most cases, confined to local market.

Thus, in those days, the businessmen were interested in maximizing profits through the two important profit centers, i.e. production and marketing. A few decades ago, the office had been defined as a place where clerical work is performed for the successful operation of an institution. Office work may be done by a clerk within the four walls of a building.

Office activities have undergone vast changes in the last few decades. The world has witnessed spectacular developments and advances in the field of science, technology, industrialization, transport, communication etc., in modern concept is to view office as a function.

When it is taken as a function, it (office) may direct, control and coordinate the office work wherever it is done and whosoever does it. Here it may be noted that in the modern time, offices are developed on scientific principles and their management and administration is in the hands of qualified and trained managerial personnel.