∙ Though someone in Schuh can be dismissed due to misconduct, or a breach of the terms and conditions of their contract. Likewise they can be dismissed for failing Schuh’s internal disciplinary code, and after receiving 3 or more formal warnings.
Production Department
The Production Department is another one of the functional areas of a key business, the Production Department is needed to produce the final product. In this case we will look at Schuh’s Production Department.
Premises
∙ The Production Department is another one of the functional areas of Schuh. The first part of production is to find a place where they can manufacture the raw materials into the product, store equipment, machinery, and then store finished products ready for transporting.
∙ The Production Department will also want to locate near transport links to aid in transporting these goods around the country.
Raw Materials
- The raw materials Schuh will need in order to produce their own Schuh brand are mostly materials such as plastics, rubbers, and leather.
- They will need to source these goods from a supplier in the primary sector.
People
∙ The Production Department requires a Production Manager who manages Production line employees. Both of these are responsible for quality control, and making sure that all products are up to standard.
Equipment/ Machinery
- In the line of production, equipment and machinery are the number one priority.
- These machines must be maintained as it is imperative that the Production Department maintains continuous production.
Capital (money)
∙ In order for a business to make profit, the owner (s) will need to fund the whole of the project; the business usually needs to buy machinery, pay wages, and purchase/ rent of the store and equipment.
∙ Schuh then needs to pay the wages and salaries of their employees. Another use the capital comes in is the costs of the equipment needed.
Production Job Roles
Production Manager
∙ A Production Manager is one of the most important key figures in the Production Department. The Production Manager also manages the Production Line Workers of the department.
∙ The first part of being a Production Manager is managing to keep the staff under control and on task so that they are meeting their targets set by senior management.
∙ The Production Manager is also responsible for the safety of employees in the department.
∙ Another role of the Production Manager is to manage that all materials are ordered and arrive on time to be available. This is important because without the materials there would be no product.
- The Production Manager is in charge since they are the ones who ensure that the end shoe is in high quality fashion.
∙ Lastly a Production Manager needs to deliver the product according to the targets sets. For example the Production Manager must provide some maintenance to the machines in order for consistent production.
Production Line Worker
∙ A Production Line Worker is another important key figure in the Production Department. This is because a Production Line Worker has greater hands on role for making the shoes and accessories. This also includes making shoes up to standard since machines can not judge the end product so they will need to judge whether it meets customer satisfaction.
∙ Another role of a Production Line Worker is to use the machines properly. This means they must follow directions set by the Production Manager and follow what they had learnt at training.
∙ The Production Line Worker also has to meet all the required targets of producing the product, for example, such as deadlines to meet and how much of the stock to produce for different areas.
Marketing Department
Marketing is one of the important parts of any business. Marketing usually involves the business raising awareness of its service or product.
Marketing begins with the four basic P’s. They are Product, Place, Promotions, and Price.
All these P’s work together in order for a successful product.
Product
∙ Product is what the business provides for sale to the customer. To know what they need to sell a business will conduct intensive market research of the product.
∙ Market research can usually consist of questionnaires, phone calling, and market analysis.
∙ Another factor in a product can be demographics, this means when Marketing Departments break customers up in to different age barriers and income, looking for what product would appeal for each one of them in different barriers. For example Schuh might want to manufacture a new type of shoe that is specially designed for old people and any known problems of foot pain.
∙ Marketing can be one of the factors which can influence the way in which customers see the product. In marketing their own products, especially the high fashion shoes, Schuh will consider the product lifestyle and ensure that they are constantly updating their ranges to meet the changing tastes of their targeted markets.
∙ Lastly what makes a good product is one that provides value for money.
Place
∙ Place refers to where a product is sold.
∙ Schuh sell their products in their retail stores, the internet, and also catalogues.
Promotion
∙ Promotion is when the end of the product or service is displayed to the public. Different promotions can attract different types of customers.
∙ The first part of promotion is usually advertisements, when advertising a product it is important to advertise it to the right type of public in order to attract the target market.
∙ Another key figure, in promoting can be packaging of the product, this can usually attract customers who are passing by, by being an eye catching display such as promotional activities which can also include deals such as 10% off discounts.
∙ Lastly another important factor in promotion can be the sponsorships, different sponsorships can endorse different things, such as football shirts, and a team’s reputation might build upon its sponsors for example Manchester United by AIG and Nike, two huge companies. Schuh can then take advantages of promotional sponsorship opportunities by getting involved in, and then organising local events.
∙ Promotions can also be carried out in-store where Schuh offer discounts and sales promotions.
Price
∙ Price is the important part which determines the businesses profit from the product. Schuh make their own brand, and in order to determine the price they would need materials and the cost of using machinery, so in order for Schuh to make any profit they would need to balance out the cost versus profit. While also decide how much they will charge for it.
- They can also determine price of their brand name shoes by researching and comparing with other competitors in order to find out a suitable price.
Job roles in marketing
Marketing Director
∙ The Marketing Director of Schuh is in charge with all of the marketing, this includes advertising, sales and promoting the product.
∙ The Marketing Director also manages all employees in the Marketing Department in Schuh. The Marketing Director also looks into ways to improve the marketing in Schuh; they can look at how other people in other businesses have set out tasks, and bring ideas into the department
∙ The Marketing Director writes the marketing policies. In order for the business to run efficiently, the Marketing Director will also need to make sure that the department is meeting the set objectives.
Promotions Manager
- The Promotions Manager at Schuh is in charge of implementing promotional activities.
- The Promotions Manager will also have the responsibility for raising Schuh and its products awareness.
- The Promotions Manager is in charge of all the promotion staff at the department.
- The Production Manager will also have the responsibility for checking new promotional opportunities.
- The Promotions Manager will also have to make sure that the promotion staff will meet the Marketing Department’s objectives.
Administration
The Administration Department is responsible for taking care of the day – to – day activities of the business.
In doing this they provide a service to the other functional areas of a business and allow them to focus on their specialized activities.
There are certain attributes that people in administration require:
Computer Skills
- The first thing which is required from an administrator should be excellent use of computer skills. The reason why an administrator would need good computer skills is because in today’s modern world nearly everything is powered around technology. And without basic knowledge there is little chance of becoming an administrator.
∙ Computer skills are important for record keeping. Record keeping can be compared to a database in which data will be input into Excel; this is usually done so it is quick and easy for when it is needed, though they also have to make a back up copy, in case the computer crashes or data gets lost.
∙ The administrator can also use the internet and fax to send out emails and documents to other places and organise events.
∙ Another skill which is needed is the ability to use the internet and fax. Being able to use e-mail and fax is important since much of the business communication is based around the internet.
∙ Using fax is even quicker; this can involve sending letters through a fax machine, Schuh use this communication in sending their order forms to suppliers.
Communication Skills
∙ Another important skill that is needed is excellent communication skills. Communication skills consist of writing, speaking clear, polite, and being calm. Each of these is important in order to send out a clear message.
∙ A second communication skill can be to take messages on and to pass them on.
∙ An important factor within communication skills is being able to deal with enquires and private information. Dealing with enquires can also be challenging since it usually consists of taking care of people that might have any questions or comments for the senior level of management.
∙ Τhere is also the responsibility of handling private information; this can include customer information or information on a new product.
Setting up meetings
∙ An important factor in becoming an employee in administration is the ability to set up meetings. Meetings can be used to talk about the businesses future or discuss issues with the employees.
∙ It can also be what improvements need to be made in each of its functional areas.
Job Roles
Administration Manager
∙ Administration Managers are some of the most important figures in any business; Administration Managers manage the whole of the department in order to insure that the business runs as efficient as possible.
∙ The first role of an Administration Manager is to manage the whole of the selected department; this can usually include assigning other people to do tasks, and also monitor the progress of the department to ensure it works sufficiently.
∙ The Administration Manager also has to perform some of the administrative tasks: these tasks can include writing reports of the employees in the sector, managing the end result and progress of the work loads.
∙ One other role of an Administrative Manager can be to meet set objectives and work tasks, meeting deadlines is one of the key figures of being a manager; Administration Managers will also make sure their workers are meeting their targets.
Personal Assistant
∙ Personal Assistants perform some of the most important jobs of shareholders or senior directors of Schuh. The roles which the Personal Assistant can perform are important ones, for example setting up meetings, taking messages and passing them on, and also ones like arranging events.
∙ The use of Personal Assistants is important since an owner can be a very busy person, and in order to keep track of everything they will need Personal Assistants.
Job Roles
Human Resource Manager
∙ The Human Resource Manager is in charge of all the employees who work for the business. This usually includes from managers to the part time and full time staff.
∙ The first and main objective of a Human Resource Manager is to recruit and dismiss the employees, and to make sure that they follow all employment laws in this process.
∙ When recruiting it is important that the applicant who is applying is being treated fairly. The Human Resource Manager of Schuh should be following the Equal Rights Act, this basically means that the Human Resource Manager does not treat any one different just cause of their race, religion, or disability.
∙ This usually consists of the Sex, Race, and Disability Acts in which the Human Resource Manager cannot favour someone just because of their religion or colour.
- The Human Resource Manager also has the ability to dismiss any employees who are consistently not coming up to the standards or who breach the terms and conditions of their employment act.
∙ Another role of the Human Resource Manager is to make sure their employees follow the Health and Safety guidelines, making sure the employees follow the Health and Safety guidelines is important since they might get hurt and sue the company. In doing this they must also ensure that the appropriate amount of training is provided for all staff.
∙ The Human Resource Manager sets out tasks for all the other employees in the department to do.
Recruitment and Training Officer
∙ The Recruitment and Training Officer is another important figure in Schuh’s employment area. The Recruitment and Training Officer is also involved in the selection process.
∙ The first role which the Recruitment and Training Officer provides is to make sure that the employees understand the workplace Health and Safety guidelines.
- In Schuh it is the role of the Recruitment and Training Officer to make sure staff understand the Health and Safety around the store, this training is periodically updated. It may consist of whole staff training or individual personal development.
∙ Another role of the Recruitment and Training Officer in this case it is to make sure that the employee knows the hazards of their environment, this is important so if an accident was to occur the employee would know where the first aid is.
Functional Areas Unit 1 P2
