Functional Areas of Business and Required Skills for Employees

This report discusses the major functional areas of business and the required skills for employees to work effectively in these areas. The functional areas include marketing, human resource management, customer service, finance, research and development, and sales. The report describes each functional area in detail and lists the skills needed by employees to work effectively in each area. The report is relevant to students studying business management and related courses.

BSc (Hons) Business Management with
Foundation
BMP3004
World of Work
Functional Areas
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Contents
1.0 Introduction p
2.0 What is a business? p
3.0 What is Functional areas of business – Definition
p
4.0 What are the key functional areas of a business?
P
5.0 Description of the various functional areas in business
organizations p-p
5.1 Marketing p
5.2 Human Resource Management p
5.3 Customer Service p
5.4 Finance p
5.5 Research and Development p
5.6 Sales p
6.0 Description of the types of skills needed by employees
to be able to work effectively in these functional areas
p-p
6.1 Skills needed by Marketing employees p
6.2 Skills needed by Human Resource Management employees
p
6.3 Skills needed by Customer Service employees
p
6.4 Skills needed by Finance employees p
6.5 Skills needed by Research and Development employees
p
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6.6 Skills needed by Sales employees p
7.0 Conclusion p
References p
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1.0 Introduction
Business function are the important aspect in regard to an organization under
which an organization make performance of its concerned function and thus ensure
effective working. In the same way it is also important that the employees under
concerned function would possess required skills so that they can make performance of
function in an effective manner. This report will discuss the major business function along
with the discussion of required skills that need to be present in employees of various
department.
2.0 What is a business?
Business can be defied as an organization or an entity that is engaged in
commercial, industrial or professional activity. With the aspect of business operation
the organization can achieve its objective in terms of high sales and profit.
3.0 What is Functional areas of business - Definition
Functional areas refer to the main areas of business under which the
functions of the business are performed. With the performance of various function,
the business would be able to operate and perform its operations (Mayer, 2018).
Through the performance of functional area, the actual execution of work would be
able to get performed.
4.0 What are the key functional areas of a business?
The key functional areas of the business include the marketing, finance,
customer service, Human resource development, sales and research and
development.
5.0 Description of the various functional areas in business
organizations
5.1 Marketing:
This is one of the major functional area under which the awareness regarding
the brand and the company would be created. With the performance of marketing
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function, the organization can assist the sales of the product (Sarkum and Syamsuri,
2021). As per this function along with creating brand awareness the organization
would also analyses the need of the customers and thus avail the product in the
most acceptable form. Marketing will also lead to promote the product and services
of the company.
5.2 Human Resource Management:
This is also a major function which will lead to make the actual performance of
the organization. With the help of HR function new talent will be brought in the
company. This will also lead to make the retention of the employees (Olson and
et.al., 2018). Likewise, with the mode of HR function the training will be enabled to
the employees that will lead to learning of new skills among them. It is due to the HR
function the planned policies and framework in the context of organization would be
able to taken place. The HR function also plays an important role in terms of
motivating the employees so that they will retain in an organization.
5.3 Customer Service:
Customer service is also an important function in association with the
organization. This is because with the aspect of customer service the organization
can meet the need of the customers (Ren and et.al., 2021). likewise, this will lead to
play an important role in terms of resolving the disputes of the customers along with
resolving their query. As customer are the main element of the company so with the
enabling of good customer services the company can build good relation with the
customers along with raising the customer loyalty towards the company.
5.4 Finance:
Finance is the major department and function of the company because it will
enable the actual execution of work. Likewise, with the aspect of finance function the
organization can make actual implementation of planned activities in terms of
enabling funds for it (Bux, 2019). Finance function will also ensure that the
organization would always have the sufficient fund availability in its every department
so that its working and operation will never be affected. Under this function the
financial planning as well as its execution is also involved which will not only meet
the present need but the future need in terms of funds availability would also be
meted.
5.5 Research and Development:
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As per this function the organization would be assisted in terms of working as
per the meeting of technological need of the environment. With the performance of
the R&D function the organization meet the changing need of the technological
environment (Rachinger and et.al., 2018). The R&D function also assist an
organization in terms of making a research of the changes and thus making an
implementation of such changes in an organization. The R&D function also lead to
assist the organization in terms of making an innovation of new product followed with
its introduction in the market. With this function the company can meet the needs of
the customers in terms of producing innovative products.
5.6 Sales:
As per this function, the company can make sale of its product and services.
The sales function plays an important role in terms of contributing towards the
profitability aspect of the company (Paesbrugghe and et.al., 2018). With the
performance of sales, the company can meet its objective in terms of building high
profit and growth. This is the main function that enable the sales of the products for
which the company actually perform its business activities. The sales function would
actually bring revenue and thus counted as major function because without making a
sale of the product the running of the company will be of no worth.
6.0 Description of the types of skills needed by employees
to be able to work effectively in these functional areas
6.1 Skills needed by Marketing employees:
The marketing employee needed various skills which may majorly include the
communication, creativity, leadership, analytical and various other skills. With the
use of concerned skill say communication the marketing employee will make the
sharing of ideas and the product information (Scherich and Mowry, 2021). Likewise,
the creativity skill assists the marketing personnel to make selling of product as pert
the customer need. The analytical need also enables the making of marketing tactics
and practice as per the customer need. This leadership skill will lead to create
persuasion with respect to selling the products to the customers. Thus, with the
presence of the concerned skill the marketing personnel make sales of company’s
product and services.
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6.2 Skills needed by Human Resource Management employees:
For a HRM employee there is a need of various skills which may include the
communication, organization, patience, negotiation, ethical action, flexibility, tech
savvy and various other. The HR employee with the use of concerned skill would
able to make perform its role and function. With communication skill it makes
interaction with the employees (Chams and García-Blandón, 2019). Likewise, this
will also lead to make delivery of information in relation with the framed policies and
plans. With the use of patience skill, the HR employee will be able to wait for the
outcome of the implemented plan. In the same way with the mode of flexibility and
ethical action skill the employees will be able to make performance of work in the
ethical manner along with flexibility.
6.3 Skills needed by Customer Service employees:
Empathy, persuasive skill, clear communication, self-control, problem solving
are the major skill which an employee of customer service must present. With the
use of the skill of problem solving it can resolve the customer issues and problems.
Likewise, with the use of clear communication it can make interaction with the
customers and help them to maximum extent. The persuasive skill will enable the
employee to make persuade the customer to be a part of customer share and it will
bind the customer towards the company’s product and services. The self-control skill
will enable it to make patience and thus enable it to provide better and efficient
services.
6.4 Skills needed by Finance employees:
Problem solving, analytical skill, formal qualification, relationship management
skill, desire to innovate are the major skill which an employee of finance department
must present (McDonald, 2022). As with the skill of problem solving it may solve the
financial disputes and problem under various department and ensure smooth flow of
funds. Likewise, with the required knowledge it can make efficient operation of
finance function. The skill of analytical thinking will enable it make forecasting of
needed funds and thus make easy execution of the available funds and finance. Also
the relationship management skill will lead to build relationship among various
department and thus ensure smooth flow of funds in an organization.
6.5 Skills needed by Research and Development employees:
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Reasoning skill, analytical thinking skill, communication skill, innovation skill,
technology skill and knowledge are the major skill which an employee of the R&D
must possess (Sousa and Rocha, 2019). This means with the use of reasoning skill
an individual would make changes that will be supported with the adequate reason.
Likewise, with the presence of analytical skill it can make research and thus make an
execution of changes and innovation with the looking towards various perspective
and aspects. The communication skill will enable the sharing and implementing of
the ideas and the changes. Likewise, with the innovation skill it makes presentation
of changes and thus assist the organization towards building up of change.
6.6 Skills needed by Sales employees:
The skills which are needed to be present in a sales employee would include
the listening, communication, problem solving and product knowledge. This means
with the use of active listening the employee would make understanding of the
customer need and thus make the sales accordingly (Longenecker and Mallin,
2019). In the same way with the use of effective communication it can persuade and
thus make sales of the product. The problem solving skill will also lead to assist in
resolving problem of the customers and thus ensure sales. The knowledge of
product would lead to make the sales of the product in an effective manner.
Conclusion
From the above report it can be concluded that with the performance of
various business function the organization can make attainment of its goal. This will
also lead to ensure effective operation of the function of the company. Likewise, with
the presence of required skills among employees the company as well as the
concerned employee will be able to make the effective performance of its functions.
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References
Bux, S., 2019. Help your finance leaders to embrace new roles. HR
Future. 2019(11). pp.33-34.
Chams, N. and García-Blandón, J., 2019. On the importance of sustainable human
resource management for the adoption of sustainable development
goals. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 141. pp.109-122.
Longenecker, C.O. and Mallin, M.L., 2019. Key leadership skills of great sales
leaders. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International
Journal.
Mayer, C., 2018. Prosperity: Better business makes the greater good. Oxford
University Press.
McDonald, P., 2022. HIRING TOP TALENT IN 2022. Strategic Finance. 103(7).
pp.17-18.
Olson, and et.al., 2018. The application of human resource management policies
within the marketing organization: The impact on business and marketing
strategy implementation. Industrial Marketing Management. 69. pp.62-73.
Paesbrugghe, and et.al., 2018. Personal selling and the purchasing function: where
do we go from here?. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales
Management. 38(1). pp.123-143.
Rachinger, and et.al., 2018. Digitalization and its influence on business model
innovation. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management.
Ren, and et.al., 2021. Establishment of Smart Customer Service System Based on
Data Mining. In 3D Imaging Technologies—Multidimensional Signal
Processing and Deep Learning (pp. 151-156). Springer, Singapore.
Sarkum, S. and Syamsuri, R., 2021. The Role of Marketing Function for Competitive
Advantage. Calitatea. 22(180). pp.32-39.
Scherich, D. and Mowry, R., 2021. Accommodations in the workplace for people who
are hard of hearing: Perceptions of employees.
Sousa, M.J. and Rocha, Á., 2019. Skills for disruptive digital business. Journal of
Business Research. 94. pp.257-263.
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