1.2.4 Specialisation

Question 1

Division of labour

Answer 1

Involved individuals in specialising in one particular type of activity in the workplace → each employee has a specific task and repeating this task lets them do it fast and well

Question 2

specialisation

Answer 2

People, organisations and economies concentrate on specific economic activities because they have an advantage in that field

Question 3

advantages of division of labour

Answer 3

Higher productivity and lower cost per unit of output→ workers are more productive, cost per unit falls as less labour is needed for the same product/more is made with the existing labour force: aids economic growth and living standards
- More jobs available: tasks done quicker
- Should become more skilled, better at their jobs
- Less time wasted moving from jobs as people become specialised in one part
- Capital machinery used continuously in production: higher speed
- Time is saved training workers, more time working and less costs

Question 4

disadv of DoL

Answer 4

Monotony of work: monotonous and boring
- Lower quality of work/less productive workers
- Increased staff turnover, increased recruitment and selection costs

• Chance of structural unemployment → Workers are more likely to be replaced by machines

Greater dependence and higher risk → split tasks up into separate tasks and each one will rely on one another. If one part breaks down the whole process breaks down
- Damaging firms rep as products can be delayed, impacting productivity

Question 5

how to rectify the problems of DoL

Answer 5

1. Financial reward system –> How much you earn = quality of work
2. Job rotation → relieves boredom and increases flexibility
3. Fringe benefits offered (gym etc)
4. Have little teams work together
5. Implement motivation strategies

Question 6

specialisation benefits (employee, country, economies)

Answer 6

1. Employee: individual has greater skills and more in depth knowledge to improve the quality and quantity of the service or product concerned
2. country/region: can produce certain goods/services that they are best at producing ans then exchange them for those of other countries –> increases trade and boosts the economy
3. People and economies: try to develop expertise through education, training and research → focus on what they do well increases output and economic growth occurs
   - Finite resources can be used efficiently and lead to higher standards of living/more profit —> can solve the fundamental e problem concerning the allocation of resources

Question 7

specialisation problems

Answer 7

• Hard to work as normal when workers who are not present cause a massive dent in productivity
• Specialised worker with narrow skill set may become unemployed and fail to find work
• Repeated training may be needed
• if the g/s becomes unfashionable, then people are out of work (also if resources run out)
• if the country is dependent on this for the economy, can affect them