Management and ICT expert has dispelled a growing notion that computers could face out personal assistants executives with rise in affordable smart devices that have fueled adoption of ICT services in the corporate world.
International Renaissance Centre (IRC) Chief executive, Winnie Kamuya, said the notion that the managerial cadre of workers would become redundant in the digital era is misplaced as they have their roles cut out.
“Whereas we appreciate the role the computer has played to make work easy, can a computer welcome guests and give them the relevant information the way an Executive Assistant would do?,” posed Kamuya.
According to Kamuya, computers are yet to operate by themselves to effectively manage the office, articulate on office procedures, and carry out administrative work.
She was speaking during the launch of Call for Nominations for this year’s Personal Assistant of the Year Awards (PAYA 2015).
The Awards ceremony will be held next month in Cape Town, South Africa.
Following the launch of the call for nominations, company chief executives in Africa now have opportunity to nominate their personal or executive assistants for recognition.
The Awards organized by the IRC seek to recognize particular individuals in the position of personal or executive assistant who have made useful contributions to the organization’s overall achievement.
Kamuya, said in Nairobi the Awards will help bring attention to the important role played by personal assistants, whose contribution at the workplace has largely been ignored.
“Whereas there are occasions when companies or organizations are rewarded for being the best or making certain useful contributions around us, for example Company of the Year Award, PAYA goes further to recognise individuals in the position of executive assistant who many have made notable contributions to the organisation’s overall win,” said Kamuya.
The PAYA 2015 is the seventh edition of the Awards and will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in September following successful editions in Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho.
Past PAYA winners have come from Tanzania, Lesotho and Uganda, with the last two dominating the Awards.
Uganda won the first and second editions consecutively, while Lesotho won the 2012, 2013 and 2014, consecutively. The winner of 2014 was Mathabo Naledi of Lesotho.
The Awards ceremony will be preceded by the International Personal Assistants Symposium to be attended by all shortlisted candidates for the Awards.
The symposium will serve to motivate and build the capacity of the nominees to become more effective in their roles and will be addressed by inspirational speakers and experts in office management issues.
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