We explain what the functional areas of a company are and the characteristics of each one. Also, what are B companies?
Each functional area has a specific function within the company.What are the functional areas of a company?
The functional areas of a company are the departments or business units, which have specific functions so that the business work efficiently.
They are teams of employees who have abilities and similar experiences and that, together, satisfy the needs of the area within the organization. The departments are developed progressively, depending on the growth of the company structure.
In the cases of startups or small businesses, it is likely that a person or a few, have multiple tasks in charge. When the company grows and, as a consequence, so does its internal structure, it is necessary to create specialized departments or teams that work aligned to the objectives Y politics of the organization.
What are the functional areas?
The functional areas of a company are similar to each other, regardless of the area in which they specialize. However, depending on the size of the organization, the structure and distribution of each functional area.
In the case of small companies, there are areas that fulfill two or more functions and, in the case of medium or large companies, it is essential to organize work through different departments or areas, in order to optimize the performance of the company. In a medium or large structure, the functional areas of a company can be:
- From address. It is the key area of any company, which make the decisions, sets the objectives and directs the rest of the organization. She is responsible for controlling all functional areas.
- From accounting Y finance. It is the area responsible for the monetary and financial management of the company. This includes controlling employee and vendor payroll, financial reporting and automation of the business, for example, by means of a software accountant.
- Of production. It is the functional area of the business that, through various processes, converts inputs or raw materials into finished products. To ensure optimum performance of the production process, the area should be in charge of monitoring and QA in the different instances of production.
- From marketing Y advertising. It is the area in charge of getting customers and develop an effective strategy for communication in order to meet marketing objectives. Develops and coordinates the institutional image, the brand, the products, the points of sale, the diffusion and the promotion.
- From human Resources. It is the area in charge of searching, selecting and recruiting the people that the company needs to employ. In addition, it is in charge of managing everything related to human capital (administrative, legal, training, internal communication, etc.).
- Information technology. It is the area responsible for developing the technological structure, the hardware, the software and the computer networks within the organization. His tasks include both technical support to employees and security administration of the information to protect corporate data.
- From customer service. It is the area in charge of interacting with clients in order to establish and consolidate the relationship. You must answer questions, process orders, address concerns and complaints, so the capacity for empathy and negotiation are essential requirements for the area.
- From shopping. It is the area that is responsible for the purchases of raw Materials, machinery, equipment and supplies necessary for the performance of the work of the employees and the company as a whole. You can also keep track of merchandise (stock control) to avoid shortages.
- Of legal.It is the area responsible for providing legal advice to the company, its departments and employees. Its advisory services extend to the development of new businesses, management of contracts, real estate transactions, claims of customers, product defects, employment law, among others.
- From innovation. It is the area where new ideas arise and where their subsequent implementation is consulted, debated and analyzed. The objective of the area is to improve the commercial practices of the company and for that it is in charge of investigating, analyzing and providing reports for decision making.
B Companies
B companies (or B corporations) are a new concept that is part of the current business era and that is changing the way of thinking and developing organizations. Although the structure of each functional area is maintained, its objectives must be aligned with the “triple impact”, composed of three guidelines:
- To be a company that creates a positive impact in the social and environmental spheres.
- Be responsible and have as a primary goal the interests of the workers, of the community and from environment.
- Be transparent and publish an annual report on social and environmental impact, certified by an external body.
This new paradigm redefines the meaning of success in business, where it is not enough just to create a company to generate ProfitsRather, it must justify its existence so that it contributes to social and environmental development, without harming or destroying them (as is the case with most of today's companies, worldwide).
The new paradigm does not conceive of making money at the cost of the misuse of resources. Business success goes hand in hand with the care and development of the entire society.
For this to be possible and the B companies have an endorsement in their actions, they operate according to social, environmental and transparency standards.
Private companies are certified by “B corporation”, a global non-profit organization with offices in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a partnership in Latin America with Sistema B, a non-profit organization .