1. FUNCTIONAL AREAS

2. ORGANISATION FUNCTIONS  There are usually many different functional areas that make up an organisation. These functions are also known as departments.  The number of functions an organisation will have usually depends directly on the size of the organisation to make the workload more manageable and have certain responsibilities outlined.

3. ACCOUNTS / FINANCE  Invoicing customers  Payments made by customers  Receiving invoices from suppliers  Payments made to suppliers  End of year accounts  Budgets for each function  Financial forecasts  Arranging loans/overdrafts  General ledger  Sales ledger  Purchase ledger  Profit and Loss account  Balance sheet

4. FINANCE DATA  Finance information needs  Sales and purchase information  Payroll  Payments in and out  Receipts or invoice production

5. MARKETING  Price setting  Product – trials, packaging, feedback  Place – where/how to sell it, positioning of product  Promotion – advertising  Conduct market research  Look at competitors

6. MARKETING DATA  Marketing information needs  Market trends  Competitor information  Analysing marketing campaigns  Special offers  New products

7. SALES  Persuading customers to buy product / service  Telephone sales  Sales representatives  Catalogues  Web ordering service  Sending mail shots  Dealing with customer accounts.

8. SALES DATA  Sales information needs  Customer information  ie name, address, credit limit  Order details

9. PERSONNEL / HUMAN RESOURCES  Payment of wages  Pensions  National Insurance  Tax  Recruitment of staff – job adverts, interviewing, selection  Industrial relations  Staff training

10. RESEARCH/DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT  Product design  Research into market requirements  Looking at new technology/products  Planning for the future  Research & design information needs  Product design  Marketing predictions  Available products  Design specification

11. OPERATIONS  Producing the goods / services  Manufacturing  Needs data  Material costs – sources  Premises  Equipment  Supply and demand

12. PURCHASING  Buying raw materials and components  Just-in-time method  Highest possible quality at cheapest possible price  Purchasing consumables  Ordering goods/services  Receiving goods/services  Stock control  Purchasing information needs ◦ Purchase orders ◦ Check delivery notes and goods

13. DISTRIBUTION  Picking products from the warehouse  Producing despatch notes  Packaging goods  Sending goods to customer  Dealing with returned goods

14. ICT SERVICES  Installing computer systems  Maintaining computer systems  Developing computer systems  Help desk  Web sites  IT training

15. ADMINISTRATION  Administration for all other departments  Word-processing  Producing documents  Producing reports  Filing  Dealing with mail  Reception  Photocopying

16. QUALITY CONTROL  Checking the quality of goods produced  Reviewing company quality policies  Customer Services

17. OVERVIEW  Functional areas are departments  How many depends on how large the organisation is  They have a specific role  They need to process information  They depend on sharing data and information from other areas  Avoid duplication  Support the organisation  Communication is key to success