3.2- Specialisation & Division of Labour

Question 1

Explain specialisation

Answer 1

When an employee concentrates on one operation and does it all the time.

Question 2

List and explain all four specialisations

Answer 2

Function- specialise in a particular area of their speciality, e.g. law-family law

Process- Person/business concentrates on one skill, e.g. welder

Product- When a company specialises in one type of product, e.g. wedding dresses.

Question 3

Advantages and disadvantages of specialisation.

Answer 3

Advantages:
* Each person becomes an expert of that function
* The finished product should be of higher quality
* Goods are made faster
Disadvantages:
- May be difficult to find work as they’re trained in only one skill
- Any specialised business is dependent on other businesses for resources

Question 4

What is division of labour?

Answer 4

Where the manufacturing of a product is divided into a small number of stages and each employee is given a single task.

Question 5

Advantages and disadvantages of division of labour.

Answer 5

Advantages:
* Each worker becomes very practised at their task
* Workers have to be trained for only one small task
Disadvantages:
- Work can be very monotonous
- Difficult for workers to be proud of the product as they don’t see the finished product