Doc reader shall allow you to convert word docs in text or pdf format - but possibly some formatting and pictures could be lost. If you have reference materials in doc format, you better convert it by online services or on a desktop machine (i.e. with openoffice.org) in pdf, which you will be able to browse with your tablet.
The enclosed pdf reader does not allow searching, but if you need it (as I bet you do), you can install "evince".
If you need to make word processing, by now the simplest and safest option is to use the enclosed "notes" app which can save in html format - good to be imported in every modern wp. In the future, it's likely that abiword will be available (it's in beta stage now but still unusable for work), and that is a very nice wp with lots of import/export formats.
Use gnumeric for spreadsheets and simple databases - it's OK.
Use xournal for note taking by hand or for annotating pdf files. To have both gnumeric and xournal, there's a post of mine with a hack for it, until those applications modify their dependencies.
If you need to create office documents, there are more elaborate tricks. You can install kde as described by penguinbait, and you'll have the koffice suite of wp, sheet and slides creator. Or, as I did, install the basilisk II emulator of the old Apple mac computers, and search for a copy of microsoft office 4.2, which is cheap on ebay.

As you can see, there's no reason of being pessimistic... just ask for help!