Functional Areas

Functional Areas
This is also known as the different departments within the business

What different functional areas/departments do think most businesses
Marketing
have?
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Finance
Sales
Human Resources
Administration
Research and Development
Production
Customer service

What do you think each of the following departments do? 
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Marketing
Finance
Sales
Human Resources
Administration
Research and Development
Production
Customer services

Marketing and sales
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The processes designed to meet the needs of the consumer
Market research both primary and secondary research
Primary – collecting information first hand e.g. questionnaires
Secondary – analysing information which has already been gathered e.g. company reports Marketing and sales
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Marketing also deals with what is commonly known as the 4 Ps: product, price, place and promotion
Most well known is promotion – deals with advertising, sales promotions and PR (public relations) and publicity campaigns.

Sales
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Businesses can sell in many ways
Sell through retailers
Personal selling – through sales reps e.g. insurance
Mail order
Internet selling

Customer service
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Customers expect- knowledgeable staff, prompt attention/service, polite and helpful staff
Duty to provide a positive shopping experience – to make the customer feel important The type of information provided to customers varies and the member of staff may not know the answer but it must be dealt with correctly

Customer service
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The type of information provided to customers varies and the member of staff may not know the answer but it must be dealt with correctly
Staff must also be able to give advice which is appropriate to the individual customer

Customer service
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Provide credit facilities
Deliver goods
After-sales service – returned goods, repairs service, technical queries, maintenance service, complaints Research and development 
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This function deals with