The inputs, processes and outputs of a business may be varied. Like a Product based Organisation's strategy, structure and systems are likely to differ to that of a Service based Organisation.

Activities of business result in resource allocation, be it tangible (machinery) or intangible (knowledge).

General activities may remain consistent across different types of industry, although tailored to the specific needs of the Entity. Like the Year End Accounts Administering Activities or the Travel / Transport Scheduling Activities.

1. Preparing activities ; 2. Receiving activities ; 3. Scheduling activities ; 4. Maintaining activities ; 5. Processing activities and 6. Administering activities.

Accounting, Audit, Consultancy, Finance, Tax, Banking, Debt, Investment, Stockbrokers, Building Societies, Insurance, Assurance, Legal, Solicitors, Investigation Services - Detective Agencies, Healthcare - Hospitals, Police - Fire Brigade, Voluntary and Charity Organisations. 

Search more about procedures, practices, policies, targets, objectives, goals and aims relating to your administering activities:

Within the Centralisation V Decentralisation debate one should also consider the possibility of mix'n'match.

For example it may be feasible and more cost effective to centralise consulting services than empowering departmental management of the external consultancy process.

Thus a single purchasing department analysing, appraising and processing tenders / costs / benefits. So focusing on control, productivity and prioritisation of projects. Gelling the expectations and deliverables with reality. Resulting in objectivity, consistency and effectiveness.

Consider Professionalism, Specialism, Personal / Sub- optimalisation / Power, Comparability / Comprehensibility, Integrative / duplicative (resources / problems / opportunities / solutions).

A Credit Policy (Sales and Finance Departments) requires a structured approach and should encompass:

- Customer Relationship Management, Profitability, Retention, Credit and Payment Terms. General and Specific Guidelines with relevant Authority - Status - Approval. New Account Opening (money laundering implications, credit risk / potential scoring (Principals - information - Directors; Line of Business; Business Life Cycle; Public Information; Category of Risk (high - average - low); Payment Cycles)).

- Identify, Clarify and Illustrate definitions and limitations (staff training, communication (systems, procedures, practices and contents)).

- Infrastructure bolstered with effective documentation (manuals, standard and consistency in correspondence (letter, e-mail, fax, phone, notices)).

- Bad Debt Recovery and Write Off preventative measures and legal implications. Strategy(s), implementation and control issues.

- Focus on contractual terms and conditions (confidentiality agreements, sales & credit agreements, audit (evidence) trail). 

- No ambiguity and seek assurances. Think Security, Acceptability and Action (proceed (monitor & control) or decline offer) requirements.