Introduction to Business Studies: ASDA Case Study on Human Resource and Financial Management

This report provides a case study on ASDA, one of the top 10 supermarkets in the UK, and its human resource and financial management practices. It discusses the importance and functions of financial management, including capital estimation, capital composition, funding sources, cash management, and financial control. It also explores the key aspects of HR management, such as employee motivation, recruitment and selection, performance management, training and development, and employee engagement. The report highlights the significant role of these departments in increasing organizational productivity and performance level.

INTRODUCTION TO
BUSINESS STUDES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CASE STUDY.................................................................................................................................3
Aspect relating to human resource..............................................................................................3
REPORT..........................................................................................................................................5
Aspect relating to financial management....................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Business studies is defined as key concept that provides individuals an appropriate
comprehending and knowledge about varied activities, actions and practices that has been
conducted in a company, whether it large or small. A business study encompasses key
information that provide a lot of benefits to companies in term of developing their understanding
about factors or functions that impact on ventures growth and success. The current assignment
will be based on ASDA, which falls under the list of top 10 supermarkets in the United
Kingdom. The report will explain aspects related to human resource and finance management in
organizational context.
CASE STUDY
Aspect relating to human resource
ASDA is one of those companies that play vital role in the context of increasing consumer
base and enhancing their satisfaction in retail industry. It is so because it may have experienced
and knowledgeable workforce among which each candidate is able to make supermarket
productive then other supermarkets in the nation, where it has established its venture in effective
manner. For example, human resource management is one of those strategic departments among
which each worker is able to reach desire outcomes as they are capable to understand the needs
and expectations of employees, who are providing satisfactory services to target market or
consumer (Human Resource Management 101: Functions, Policies & Procedures, 2017). It can
be said that HR management play significant role in the organization, in term of using their key
aspects and these are:
Employee motivation-
In ASDA, human resource manager may utilize this strategic aspect in effective manner,
which in turn contribute to retain talented and knowledgeable candidates (The 12 Key Functions
of Human Resources, 2021). In order to motivate employees, they are accountable to conduct
varied activities and consider key approaches. For example, HR department used compensation
and beneficiary terms, because it enables them to retain skilled candidates who are capable to
achieve set goals and objectives of supermarket. In the recent time, it is quite essential for a
company to retain those workers, that are capable and highly effective in term of making
organizations productive. Along with current approaches, HR department in supermarket may

effort to utilize more beneficiary methods and adopt ways that aid to achieve strategic aim
successfully and that is employee motivation an essential aspect of HRM.
Recruitment and selection-
Human resource department may put positive impact on growth and success of ASDA, in
term of utilizing their key feature such as current one. For example, they may take action to build
wide workforce in supermarket, by recruiting and selecting talented people, who are able to
accomplish daily task and reach desire outcome (Nguti and Mose, 2021). It can be said that
recruitment and selection are included in major functions of HR management, as they are able to
hire and select most productive candidate. Human resource manager and their team members by
using this characteristic may play vital role in progress of ASDA, which is quite essential for
them to do so, appropriately. They may take action to develop effective and appropriate plan to
hire individuals that contribute to make brand productive and profitable as always.
Performance management-
Along with above two, human resource management may have other aspects as well. For
example, they are capable to manage staff’s performance, because of having ability in term of
performance management, which is one of their aspects. In order to conduct this practice, they
may utilize strategic methods and techniques such as rewards and compensation, that aid to
retain employees and also support to gain the attention of new (Popescu and Kyriakopoulos,
2022). Human resource department by coordinating and communicating with other sections are
enable to take decision in term of providing incentives, that help to manage staff performance
successfully. 360-degree feedback is also considered as performance management technique that
in the world of business applied in regard to varied companies, for purpose of managing
employee’s performance in effective manner.
Training and development-
It is also included in list of HR aspect that provide unpredicted benefits to ASDA and its
management in term of building skilled and effective teams of player in the workplace. As they
are capable to develop training and development plans (Alattas and Abunar, 2021). In the
corporate world, there are different types of training & development approaches available and
has been utilized in the multiple companies, for purpose of enhancing staff’s performance and
increasing their productivity level, which is important for human resource department to do that
appropriately. For example, by using on and off job learning methods, they may contribute in

regard to supermarket progress. With this aspect, HR management may obtain benefits of
talented people, who have certain skills and capabilities that aid to grow firm rapidly.
Employee engagement-
Human resource department is able to engage employees, whether they are new or
existing in the context of organizational operations and activities related to its venture such as
decision making. In term of conducting this practice, they may boost employee’s morale and
give them reason to retain with brand that operates in retail industry (Ababneh, 2021). It can be
said that employee engagement in decision making process bring several advantages for
companies such as ASDA in form of retaining talented people and boosting their confidence,
which drive their attention toward making achievable commitments successfully. High level of
employee engagement in certain things in the supermarket play essential role in term of creating
positive working environment, where individual person prefers to work forever.
All above aspects made human resource department one of the most progressive and
productive sections in the chosen company, where they contribute to make organization
productive always. They may always effort to work with such amazing people among which
each person hold power to beat rival by performing productively and flexibility. They may
contribute to reach expect outcome and obtain the same beyond management prediction, which is
the major responsibility of human resource department that HR manager fulfil appropriately. HR
management boost candidate’s performance and drive their attention toward promoting venture
globally that in turn aid to attract new individual workers as well. Their efforts and initiatives
support firm to beat rivals and gain competitive advantages.
REPORT
Aspect relating to financial management
Financial management refer to key activities that a department in the organization is
accountable to conduct (Jovanović and Vašiček, 2021). These are planning, organizing, directing
and managing as well as controlling the financial practices such as usage of funds and
procurement. It may drive the attention of finance department toward applying common
administrative principles, for purpose of financially resource a firm, whether it is public or
private. Financial management is usually concerned with allocation, procurement and control of
financial assets of a company such as ASDA. Like, human resource department, financial

management also play crucial role in the supermarket in term of managing its profitability and
growth, which is quite essential for them to do so appropriately and systematically.
Importance and functions of financial management-
It is significant for continuous growth and success of supermarket that faced competitive
challenges while running and operating business functions in retail industry. The aim of this
department is to manage ASDA finances that may enable administration to take pleasure of
increasing profitability and managing venture progress in effective and competitive manner
(Hamdamov, 2021). The best examples of financial management functions are following;
Estimation of capital requirements-
The most important and beneficial function of financial management is current one,
which may drive the attention of manager toward making clear estimate with regard to capital
needs of ASDA. Their practice may rely on expect cost and profitability as well as further
systems & policies of supermarket. It is quite essential for them to concentrate on process of
preparing estimate that may have to be made in appropriate manner that aid to increase income
capability of firm (Financial Management - Meaning, Objectives and Functions, 2022). Along
with above actions, it is important for them to concentrate on other as well. For example, while
estimating capital needs, they may take approach to collaborate with other stakeholders, which
help them to take right decision that is essential for continuous growth of enterprise.
Determine capital composition-
It is another function of financial management that manager may utilize to reach desire
outcome and achieve set goals. It can be said that once they made estimate, the capital format has
to be selected for which the same department and their team is accountable. In term of capital
composition, they may take approach to develop short and long term debt equity analysis, which
is essential for them to create in appropriate manner (Hertina, 2021). Equity analysis may depend
on proportion of equity capital of firm. Capital structure provide desirable results and outcome of
certain factors such as organizational size, & maturity that influence financial options of
supermarket accessible in the world of business. They may fulfil this function in term of
calculating percentage of total funding that each element may represent.
Select appropriate source of funding-
Along with above activities, financial department or management is accountable for
other actions as well. For example, they may take approach to utilize find out specific and

appropriate funding source that allow ASDA and its administration to achieve set aim in term of
conducting efforts to enter into new market, where success and growth factors are accessible in
bulk (Ravić, Đekić and Radić, 2021). It is fact that there are different types of funding sources
accessible in the business world, that finance department may chose in the context of
supermarket, for purpose of making it capable to become a competitive brand in retain sector.
For instance, they may select bank loan as the most reliable way to collect required amount of
money, which firm may utilize in effective manner to obtain expect result.
Manage cash-
Financial management encompasses varied forms of activities and elements that play
vital role in the context of ASDA. For example, finance department may make strategic decision
in the context of cash management, that allow organization to take essential decision without
thinking too much to implement new system and technology (Ali and Hamad, 2021). It can be
said that cash management practice may contribute to grow firm rapidly as it may take decision
to make possible investment, whether it is related to functional or operational things.
Management of cash and other resources is an essential task of financial manager, which they
effort to fulfil in systematic ways. This function also covers forecasting cash inflow & outflows
to make assure that there is neither lack nor surplus of money with ASDA.
Financial control-
Finance department play significant role in ASDA context, in term of developing plan
and managing everything accordingly for purpose of controlling financial performance of
company. It can be said that financial manager just does not focus on plan process, but they may
also exercise to control over necessary finances and eliminate unnecessary money investment,
that may put negative impact on progress and success of firm (Bialowolski, Weziak-Bialowolska
and McNeely, 2021). They may attempt to utilize effective techniques such as ratio analysis, cost
control, financial forecasting, etc. which may give them power to boost organizational
performance and productivity level even better than other companies that are operating in similar
industry (Mustafa and Shaikh, 2021). It is fact that evaluation and controlling of organizational
performance may ensure firm further unpredicted success.
CONCLUSION
From above analysis, it has been concluded that human resource and other department in the
supermarket has contributed to increased organizational productivity and performance level.

Their contribution has enabled organization to obtained competitive advantages in bulk, which is
not possible for any company to do that in effective manner. Furthermore, by summing up above
discussion, it has been summarized that human resource department by using their key aspects
has retained and acquired skilled candidates. It has been identified from above analysis, that
financial management or department in the supermarket has played significant role. As they had
managed financial performance of firm even better than last few years or months.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Alattas, Z. S. and Abunar, M., 2021. INFLUENCE OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
TOWARD EMPLOYEE’S PERFORMANCE. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of
Egypt/Egyptology. 18(12). pp.203-209.
Ali, D. J. and Hamad, H. A., 2021. The role of the cash flow statement to provide accounting
information for the financial decision-making process:(Case study International Islamic
Bank of Kurdistan in the year 2018). QALAAI ZANIST SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL. 6(2).
pp.870-887.
Bialowolski, P., Weziak-Bialowolska, D. and McNeely, E., 2021. The role of financial fragility
and financial control for well-being. Social Indicators Research. 155(3). pp.1137-1157.
Hamdamov, O. N. M., 2021. PROSPECTS FOR INCREASING THE IMPORTANCE OF
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN ENSURING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF
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Hertina, D., 2021. Corporate Value Impact Of Financial Management Policies. Turkish Journal
of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT). 12(11). pp.1177-1183.
Jovanović, T. and Vašiček, V., 2021. The role and application of accounting and budgeting
information in government financial management process—a qualitative study in Slovenia.
Public Money & Management. 41(2). pp.99-106.
Mustafa, M. N. and Shaikh, S. A., 2021. REVALUATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT
DUE TO DEVALUATION OF CURRENCY-DOES FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHOW
ACCURATE VALUE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION?. Academy of Accounting and
Financial Studies Journal. 25. pp.1-18.
Nguti, V. N. and Mose, T., 2021. The role of E-recruitment and selection functions on the
organizational outcomes in HELB, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Human
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Popescu, C. R. G. and Kyriakopoulos, G. L., 2022. Strategic Human Resource Management in
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Financial Management - Meaning, Objectives and Functions. 2022. [Online]. Available
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Human Resource Management 101: Functions, Policies & Procedures. 2017. [Online].
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