These are performed by people in the Operations Department.
The operations department is responsible for the business-specific execution, the main effort of the business. This is different for every business, and the teams or groups of people doing that work may be named differently in each industry. There may be multiple groups doing this in parallel, depending on the business. If the business makes and sells a product, execution would involve the making of the product. In contrast, if a business outsources the production, the logistics department would handle it. If the business sells a service, execution involves doing that service. The employees or contractors doing the main effort of the business may be organized into teams or larger groups and they report to the operations department. In some businesses, employees do multiple jobs that we would consider to be in different departments. In those cases, the employees can be considered as being in the operations department. For example:
- doing the cleaning in a dry-cleaning service
- the masseuse in a massage parlor
- the dentists, doctors, therapists, or chiropractors in a clinic
- the cleaners in a house-cleaning service
- the cooks and dishwashers in a restaurant
- the coaches in a coaching business
- the teachers in a school, college, or university
- the volunteers in a humanitarian organization who are doing the work
- the staff in a small store who do everything (stock, clean, cashier, service, etc.)
- the efforts of companies in a military battalion are coordinated by the battalion operations officer
Management. In addition to doing the work, the operations department is responsible for managing the work.
Coordination. The operations department is responsible for coordination with other departments for everything that is needed to do the work.
Learn and adapt. The operations department is responsible for continuous improvement.