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Question
Define business functions.
Answer
Business functions are the main areas of activity within a business that work together to achieve organizational objectives.
💡 Hint
Main areas of activity.
Question
State two responsibilities of HR.
Answer
HR is responsible for recruitment and training (and also motivation/rewards and employee relations).
💡 Hint
People-related tasks.
Question
Give one example of interdependence between Marketing and Operations.
Answer
Marketing may promise product features and delivery dates, and Operations must produce the product to that specification and schedule.
💡 Hint
Promises vs production.
Question
List the four main business functions.
Answer
Human Resources, Finance and Accounts, Marketing, Operations.
💡 Hint
HR + Finance + Marketing + Operations.
Question
List the four main business functions in IB Business Management.
Answer
Human Resources, Finance and Accounts, Marketing, Operations.
💡 Hint
HR, Finance, Marketing, Operations.
Question
Match the function to what it manages: People.
Answer
Human Resources (HR).
💡 Hint
People = HR.
Question
State two responsibilities of Finance and Accounts.
Answer
Finance and Accounts records financial transactions and manages cash flow (also budgeting and financial reporting).
💡 Hint
Money management.
Question
How does Finance support Operations during a product launch?
Answer
Finance provides budgets for materials/equipment and monitors cash flow so production can be funded.
💡 Hint
Money enables production.
Question
Match the function to what it manages: Money.
Answer
Finance and Accounts.
💡 Hint
Money = finance.
Question
State two responsibilities of Marketing.
Answer
Marketing carries out market research and decides on promotion/pricing (also product development).
💡 Hint
Customer needs focus.
Question
How does HR support Marketing during growth?
Answer
HR recruits and trains sales/marketing staff to deliver promotions and customer service effectively.
💡 Hint
People power.
Question
Which function is mainly responsible for managing people?
Answer
Human Resources (HR).
💡 Hint
People = HR.
Question
Which function is mainly responsible for producing goods/services?
Answer
Operations (production).
💡 Hint
Making = operations.
Question
State two responsibilities of Operations.
Answer
Operations manages production methods and quality management (also inventory and supply chains).
💡 Hint
Making + quality.
Question
Match the function to what it manages: Creating products/services.
Answer
Operations.
💡 Hint
Making = operations.
Question
What problem can occur if functions do not communicate well?
Answer
Marketing may advertise features or delivery times that Operations cannot deliver, leading to customer dissatisfaction.
💡 Hint
Misalignment.
Question
Exam tip: In interdependence questions, what should you always include?
Answer
A specific example showing how decisions in at least two functions affect each other.
💡 Hint
Use a product launch example.
Question
Why is interdependence important for achieving business objectives?
Answer
Objectives require coordinated decisions across functions, so resources, people, and processes align toward the same targets.
💡 Hint
Objectives need coordination.
Question
Which function links most directly to customer needs and wants?
Answer
Marketing, because it identifies customer needs through research and creates strategies to satisfy them.
💡 Hint
Customer focus.
Question
Why must business functions work together?
Answer
Because decisions in one function affect others, and coordination is needed to meet objectives efficiently.
💡 Hint
Interdependence.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Business functions
Topic 1.1 hub
What is a business?
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