Management That Transforms - READ ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!
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DivisionofLabor.docxDivision of Labor
Advantages
1. Right person in the right job. Every worker is assigned the task for which a person is best suited. This helps to provide, opportunities for the best utilization of natural talents as the person performs the job which the maximum pleasure is derived.
2. Greater Efficiency. Division of labor helps to increase the efficiency of workers for two reasons.
a. Every worker is assigned the job that best suits the worker’s knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, training, and aptitude.
b. The worker continuously repeats the work and becomes an expert in performing the job. Repetition of the same work improves his dexterity and productivity—up to a level. The right person in the right job leads to higher output.
4. Saving of Time. Division of labor avoids the waste of retooling.
5. Economies of Scale in Production. Division of labor facilitates mass production. Optimum use of the means of production reduces the cost of production.
6. Less learning period. As the work is divided, a worker only needs to learn a part of the whole task. Training costs and time are reduced.
7. Inventions and Innovations. A worker doing the same task again and again for selfish reasons tries to find new and better ways of doing the job.
8. Less Strain. Division of labor makes tasks small and simple. Workers can often perform them without strain and physical tiredness, in many cases. Caution must be given to repetitive stress injuries.
9. Wider Market. Division of labor makes a wide variety more available at lower prices, thereby pushing the cost curve down, which results in a higher demand.
10. Benefits to Society. Society is benefited because of:
a. reduced costs for goods and services;
b. higher productivity, which leads to economic growth;
c. higher employment of unskilled workers; and
d. higher quality of goods and services.
Disadvantages
1. Monotony in the Work. Worker repeats the same small task over and over again, leading to boredom. Boredom and monotony create mental fatigue which ultimately reduces the quality of work.
2. Lack of Responsibility. Since the worker only performs a part of the total job, no individual can be held responsible if anything that goes wrong. It is very difficult to fix responsibility for any defect in the product.
3. Greater Interdependence. Work processes and industries become increasingly interdependent. Any problem or defect in one part may cause disturbance and dislocation in the entire process of production.
4. Loss of Job Pride. Since every worker produces only a small part of the product, the worker does not take pride in ultimate product or result. Loss of sense of job satisfaction reduces the involvement of employees.
5. Reduced Mobility of Labor. Since every worker specializes in one type of work, the worker may find it difficult to procure a job in case of unemployment.
6. Retarded Personality. Repetition of the same leads to intellectual dullness. It kills the initiative and weakens the desire to learn. The development of physical and intellectual personality of a worker may be retarded.
7. Decline in Craftsmanship. Division of labor and consequent mechanization of work processes reduces the role of worker in the production process. The tradition of craftsmanship may decline and the creative instincts of workers may remain unsatisfied.
