Business Services
Business Services
For this section the following business disciplines are covered :
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
It is difficult to determine the growth or otherwise of these sectors, however they are a significant part of all business communities.
Career Paths
Accounting
All businesses require accountancy services to be delivered in order to work through compliance with the Inland Revenue Department. Chartered accountants can also give business advice to their clients, advising on efficiencies, cashflow and planning. All Waikato towns have accountancy practices. Within most businesses there will be "bookkeepers" who account for daily inward and outward transactions. These people may be part-time, full time or contractors.
The University of Waikato Department of Accounting.
Wintec School of Business
Human Resources
Human Resources is the practise of managing the recruitment and retention of staff and the regulation surrounding the employment of people. It should also be the area that involves the ongoing training and development of staff, and forward planning of staffing needs. This is a highly complex area and is taught by the University of Waikato.
The University of Waikato Department of Strategy and Human Resources
Human resource divisions can be found within large Waikato companies. There are also a number of businesses in the Waikato that supply human resource recruitment services to firms. Others assist with human resource change management and planning.
Marketing
Marketing is a discipline that can be broken down into many areas. These include market research, strategic planning, brand development and management, promotion, public relations, advertising and selling. Most businesses employ salespeople. This role requires good self management, positivity, motivation and communication skills. Excellent written and creative skills are needed for writing marketing communications and developing promotional material. The ability to work as part of a team which may include technical people and designers is important. An analytical approach is needed to develop market research strategies and to develop marketing and strategic plans. Large companies may have a marketing department which includes people in a variety of the above roles. Smaller companies may have a Marketing Manager who may have to multi-task and carry out many of the roles themselves. Again, there are companies in the Waikato who have consultancies which supply marketing services to companies. These may be market research firms, offer general advice, be graphic designers or web developers, advertising agencies or public relations consultants.
The Radio Network offers advertising solutions to clients through developing advertising campaigns, including creating advertisements.
The University of Waikato Department of Marketing
Wintec School of Media Arts
Wintec School of Business
Te Wananga o Aotearoa Courses, specifically Umanga - Computing and Business.
Law
Legal matters are part of nearly every facet of our lives. Along with legislation surrounding everyday things such as driving, there is a lot of legislation surrounding the business world. Setting up companies, protecting intellectual property through patents etc, taxation, human resource management, local Government requirements and property transactions all require legal compliance. These often require the assistance of a solicitor or lawyer. Legal professionals usually practise within a legal firm. Within a firm one will find legal secretaries and assistants, associates and partners.
The University of Waikato School of Law
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Information and Communications Technology has a broad base with a huge variety of career options. Almost every business has information technology requirements. Some have service contracts with specialist ICT service providers bigger Waikato firms have an ICT department in-house.
In secondary schools there are moves afoot to adapt the ICT curriculum. It has been recommended that the current subjects within the Technology Learning Area be re-organised into 3 subject areas, namely Digital Technologies, Graphics and Design, and Material and Processing Technologies.
Digital Technologies are recommended to be further separated into 5 sub-categories:
- Electronics
- Programming & Computer Science
- Digital Information
- Digital Media
- Digital Infrastructure (including networking, hardware, software, and systems)
It is hoped that the new curriculum will be embedded in secondary schools over the next two or so years.
University of Waikato, specifically Waikato Management School, but search within all schools.
Wintec School of Information Technology
Te Wananga o Aotearoa Courses, specifically Umanga - Computing and Business.
Administration Services
The efficient operation of office and administrative duties are a very important part of any business function. An organised approach to all dealings with internal and external clients is vital for all organisations to run smoothly and minimise problems and mistakes.
Wintec School of Business, specifically Level 2, 3 and 4 Business Admin and Computing, and National Certificate in First Line Management courses
Te Wananga o Aotearoa Certificate in Computing and Business Administration
Future
Business Services are always going to be needed to ensure that Waikato businesses remain competitive in the global marketplace. In some cases, repetitive office work may continue to be replaced by advances in software and technology. But any work that requires decision making, customer service and organisational skills e.g. personal assistant roles, will still be required into the future. Many of the skills required in the business world are soft skills e.g. leadership, communication skills etc, and the need for these will continue. The challenge for all people engaged in business is to play a role that adds value to the business they are in, or to the businesses they work for, to increase that business's profitability in the future, through sound decisions made today.
