Functional Areas in Business: Skills and Employee Requirements Report

This report provides an overview of the functional areas within a business, detailing their specific roles and responsibilities. It begins with a definition of a business and its core functions, including marketing, sales, operations, and finance. The report then delves into the key functional areas, such as marketing, human resource management, customer service, finance, research and development, and sales, describing their activities and importance within an organization. Furthermore, the report highlights the essential skills required for employees to effectively contribute in each functional area. For marketing, skills like interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking, creativity, and teamwork are emphasized. Human resource management necessitates communication skills, administrative expertise, and knowledge of HRM practices. Customer service employees require persuasive communication, adaptability, and a positive approach. Finance professionals need accounting qualifications and effective communication skills. Research and development staff benefit from information search capabilities and attention to detail, while sales personnel should possess strong communication and public speaking skills. The report concludes by summarizing the importance of these functional areas and the skills needed for organizational success.

BSc (Hons) Business Management with
Foundation
BMP3004
World of Work
Functional Areas
Submitted by:
Name:
ID:
1

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction..........................................................................................................................4
2.0 What is a business? .............................................................................................................4
3.0 What is Functional areas of business - Definition.................................................................4
4.0 What are the key functional areas of a business?................................................................4
5.0 Description of the various functional areas in business organizations ...............................5
5.1 Marketing: .......................................................................................................................5
5.2 Human Resource Management: .....................................................................................5
5.3 Customer Service:............................................................................................................5
5.4 Finance: ...........................................................................................................................5
5.5 Research and Development:............................................................................................6
5.6 Sales: ...............................................................................................................................6
6.0 Description of the types of skills needed by employees to be able to work effectively in
these functional areas ...............................................................................................................6
6.1 Skills needed by Marketing employees: .........................................................................6
6.2 Skills needed by Human Resource Management employees: ........................................7
6.3 Skills needed by Customer Service employees:...............................................................7
6.4 Skills needed by Finance employees: ..............................................................................8
6.5 Skills needed by Research and Development employees:..............................................8
6.6 Skills needed by Sales employees:...................................................................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References .......................................................................................................................10
2

·1.0 Introduction
Business have different function and process that are undertaken to achieve the desirable
target (Hein and et. al., 2019). To reach the business customers they need to perform
different activities, and they need different skill to perform those function. This report will
evaluate different functions and skills that are needed by business so that employees can
effectively work in the organisation.
·2.0 What is a business?
A business can be a organization or the enterprise that is engaged in some kind of
commercial industry or any professional task (Yuan and et. al., 2018). In the general sense
business is organized contribution as well as activities of group of people to sell their goods
and services for profit purpose.
·3.0 What is Functional areas of business - Definition
There are different function within the business which are being performed and controlled by
business. The function are being divided to become specialized or expertise in the particular
department. This division of the function assist to develop effectiveness and efficiency. As
the management is being controlled by managers of the company, they used to manage the
task which are being performed in the organization (Chen and et. al., 2017). For effective
working strategies are all made, operation, finance and human resource department are
common in all kind of businesses. This function are based on research and further understand
this area in particular business.
·4.0 What are the key functional areas of a business?
The business have different functions which are undertaken for smooth flow of activities, yet
the key functions are:
Marketing: This function is to promote and analysis the market demand of the product is
being produced within the company (Arnott, Lizama and Song, 2017). They generate their
leads by outbound of communication that can be by digital or by physically. The existing
customers can able to know about the products and services.
Sales: when marketing is good enough then sales department have scope to convert the leads
in paying orders. As it take very less few second all depends on the type of product and
service business is offering.
Operations: This is function which undertake different activities which are being performed
3

to retain in the market. The uses to execute the commodities as when the sells is done they
take review and feedbacks regarding the products.
Finance: This department is to manage and allot the budget to all other department to
perform their respective activities.
·5.0 Description of the various functional areas in
business organizations
·5.1 Marketing:
The marketing involves different areas which is being in-bounded in marketing. The
marketing function includes specialized activities which are performed to transfer the good
from production to consumption.
l壱5.2 Human Resource Management:
This function of business undertake activities related to managing all the people
within the company to achieve their maximum potential performance. As they used
to hire the right people at right place this help to make that individual satisfies and
also fulfill the needs of business (Tyack and Camic, 2017). They used to hire, inspire,
motivates, train, development, compensation and communication activities are been
done with the HR department. The human resource managers uses to retain the
talent within the company so that employees remain innovative. They also provide
adequate compensation and benefits to their employees so that they are satisfied.
Training are being organized by the company so that employees can become
efficient and effective and also ensure the safety at workplace.
l壱5.3 Customer Service:
This is are basically the additional service which being given to the existing
customers of the particular brand. The companies used to provide these facilities to
make a remarkable experience to the customer so that they can loyal with the
brand. This includes professionalism practice which is used while providing services
as to be clammed as when as customer is not satisfied with the product than
company should have to deal with that and offer a better product than previous one.
4

l壱5.4 Finance:
The fiance is part of management of finance, this function consist of planning and
controlling related to resources so to optimize utilization of resources. This has
further classification short, medium and long term finance, the short term finance are
below or less than one year and acquired by commercial paper, advances or trade
credit. Short term finance are between 1 and 3 years and business can take this
from loan and other finance institute and long-term investment are of more than 3
year and may be more this includes long-term loans, debentures.
l壱5.5 Research and Development:
This function of business assist the creativity and innovation with the company. This also
lead to launch the new products and services. With the help of research and development
company can introduce innovative ideas and improve their existing offering. This also help
to stay more ahead in the competition as people are preferring more modern and trendy. The
companies are investing a huge amount in this department for research and the development
of employees.
l壱5.6 Sales:
Sales function is performed with the people who used to interact with the customers. This
department is responsible for contribution by the employees with the customers. This is an
key survival function in every business. The sales function show the relationship between the
existing customers of the company and the products and services which are being offered to
them. Sales is basically the main source from which the revenue is being generated, as when
them marketing and production function are being completed than sales function do its
activities. With the help to proper selling practices customers are being loyal with the brand
and continue buy the products of same brand.
5

·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:
For marketing there are various skills required that helps to perform the marketing
function more efficiently. To become an effective employee in the marketing
department they must have following skills:
Interpersonal skills: employee must aware about the duties for which they are
responsible, and they should care about its subordinates as well (Hunsaker and
Hargittai, 2018). They should able to work in the collectively and able to communicate
efficiently.
Numeracy and analytical ability: this ability is must in marketing employee as they
can analyse and collect the information and problem solving. With this skill
employee can enhance the productivity.
Creative and imagination : must full of creativity and imagination.
Team-worker: Marketing employee should have ability to work in group.
IT skill are also requied.
l壱6.2 Skills needed by Human Resource Management employees:
The Human resource management have different skill to perform more efficiently.
Communication skill: The human resource should communicate effectively with the
employees as they are linked with the organization and the people who are working over
their.
Administrative expert: This is vital in human resource department this includes area of
employees absent, leaves, outflow of the employees as well as their payroll.
Knowledge of HRM: As when an individual is working in the HR department than it is
necessary to have adequate knowledge regarding the respective subject of human resource
management.
Pro activity: This is consisted is more personality trait than any skill. The employer and the
employees assist to spot the potential problems and further taking steps to prevent them.
6

l壱6.3 Skills needed by Customer Service employees:
The customer services employees must have all the respective skills that help to satisfy the
customer needs and desire.
Persuasive speaking skills: This is the main skill which is needed by customers service
employee as their communication is in such a way that people get influenced easily.
Adaptability: As the customer service employee must be adaptive in nature as have to deal
with different situation. In the majority of cases they contact depends on where they are and
what they are doing.
Ability to communicate positively: The employee must able to talk more efficiently with
the customers to know what problem they are facing with the products. When employee will
use positive language with the customers than they will feel good, as if they will
communicate properly than they will also being patient and also retain with the brand.
l壱6.4 Skills needed by Finance employees:
In the modern world of businesses the accounting and finance function employees need to
have different skills and abilities for interpersonal skills.
Qualified in accounting: an individual who is working in finance department must have
qualification related to accounting field. The successful candidates have complete recognized
industry reservation to show that have required education training.
Able to communicate: For a motivated employee should able to communicate effectively
orally as well as in written (Diener and et. al., 2017). As many companies also chose such
candidates who can use complex language which are legible to the customer who is having
restricted knowledge.
l壱6.5 Skills needed by Research and Development employees:
As each and every company uses R&D, and they select very selectivity staff in this
department who have all the skills that are needed in this.
Able to search information: as employee can able to research the credible
information that can be analyzed answered quickly. The customers need can be
fulfilled by innovation and deep research.
Attention to detail: The employee must be attentive very closely as it is essential
skill in the R&D profession.
7

l壱6.6 Skills needed by Sales employees:
The sales people of the company should be more effective than any other.
Communication skill: As sales people are good in to deal with variety of people as
products and services are to be explained to the customer before they buy the
product.
Public speaking skill: it is one of the important skill that is required in the
profession of sales.
·Conclusion
This report concludes that the business have different functions which are being
performed effectively like marketing, sales, human resource management, finance and
research- development. Their must be different skill needed in all the respective department
to serve the service and achieve the goal of any organisation.
·
8

·References
Arnott, D., Lizama, F. and Song, Y., 2017. Patterns of business intelligence systems use in
organizations. Decision Support Systems. 97. pp.58-68.
Chen, Y. and et. al., 2017. Delineating urban functional areas with building-level social
media data: A dynamic time warping (DTW) distance based k-medoids
method. Landscape and Urban Planning. 160. pp.48-60.
Diener, E. and et. al., 2017. If, why, and when subjective well-being influences health, and
future needed research. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 9(2). pp.133-
167.
Hein, A. and et. al., 2019. Value co-creation practices in business-to-business platform
ecosystems. Electronic Markets. 29(3). pp.503-518.
Hunsaker, A. and Hargittai, E., 2018. A review of Internet use among older adults. New
Media & Society. 20(10). pp.3937-3954.
Tyack, C. and Camic, P.M., 2017. Touchscreen interventions and the well-being of people
with dementia and caregivers: a systematic review. International
psychogeriatrics. 29(8). pp.1261-1280.
Yuan, D. and et. al., 2018. Characteristic contaminants in snowpack and snowmelt surface
runoff from different functional areas in Beijing, China. Environmental Science and
Pollution Research. 25(36). pp.36256-36266.
9