Article posted june 2007:

Business organizations

Most businesses must accomplish similar functions regardless of size, legal structure or industry. These functions are often organized into departments:

Accounting: Typically responsible for financial reporting, financial controls and the raising of the capital necessary to run the business.

Human Resources: Typically responsible for hiring, firing, payroll, benefits, etc.

Marketing and sales: Responsible for selling the business goods or services to the customer and for managing the relationships with the customer. Marketing: Typically responsible for promoting interest in, and generating demand for, the business' products or services, and positioning them within the market. Sales: Finding likely purchasers and obtaining their agreement to buy the business' products or services.

Operations: Makes the product or delivers the service.

Production: Produces the raw materials into the delivered goods, if they require processing.

Customer service: Supports customers who need help with the goods or services.

Procurement: Responsible for acquiring the goods and services necessary for the business.

Strategic sourcing: Determines the business needs and plans for acquiring the necessary raw materials and services for the business.

Purchasing: Processes the purchase orders and related transactions.

Research and Development: Tests to create new products and to determine their viability.

Information Technology: Manages the business computer and data assets.

Communications/Public Relations: Responsible for communicating to the outside world.

Administration: Provides administrative support to the other departments.

Internal Audit: An independent control function typically accountable to the Board of Directors for reporting on the proper functioning of the other departments

Management: Is sometimes listed as a "department" but typically refers to the top level of leadership within the business regardless of their functional role.

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