A study sought to determine current practices in word processing installations located in selected organizations throughout the United States. A related problem was to ascertain anticipated future developments in word processing to provide information for educational institutions preparing workers for the business office. Six interview instruments were constructed to solicit word processing information from six different practitioner groups: word processing supervisors/managers, word processing operators/correspondence secretaries, administrative support supervisors/managers, administrative support secretaries, principals/originators, and top/middle management decision makers. A questionnaire was also submitted to a group of industry experts (consultants, editors, vendors) for their write-in responses about the future. Information requested of practitioners included educational background, general job responsibilities and duties, time spent on responsibilities, training, training needs, career path, initial and inservice training, and major weaknesses of workers. (Summaries of findings and discussions for each group studied are found in chapter 2.) Industry experts agree that in the next five to ten years (1) employment opportunities will continue to grow, (2) there will be greater interaction between word and data processing, and (3) a stronger emphasis will be placed on effectiveness rather than efficiency. (YLB)