How is labour organised Flashcards
division of labour
Division of labour is how work tasks are allocated in society by giving each worker a specialised role such as in a school with Head teacher, Head of Department, subject teachers, teaching assistants, catering staff, cleaning staff.
Adam Smith described how the division of labour increased production and wealth in a capitalist economy. It increased efficiency as it meant more goods could be produced at a lower price and so the whole of society benefitted from division of labour.
Durkheim said division of labour was beneficial to society as it increased feelings of social solidarity between workers as it would make individuals feel connected to each other; this would make society more stable and orderly
Division of labour A03
In contrast, Marx said division of labour degraded the skills of workers and led to exploitation, as it was the workers who did all the work for low pay. He said this resulted in the alienation of workers, as they lack job satisfaction
Employers can use different methods of supervision to control the organisation of the workforce
Abercrombie found that in small businesses, the supervision of workers is often done by owners or managers as it is easy for them to observe the work being done by their staff.
In larger organisations employers can use external surveillance for this direct control, with modern technology used to control the workforce eg. cctv
workers can get the feeling that they are always being watched so they engage in ‘self-surveillance’, as they monitor their own behaviour in the workplace.
Larger organisations can also supervise workers through a hierarchy, with every worker answerable to an immediate superior with formal rules and targets controlling the job. In this bureaucratic control the supervision is passed down through a series of line managers.
Supervision A03
This lack of trust in the workforce can inhibit creativity and development at work, with employers unwilling to take the initiative and having limited input into decision making.
Abercrombie found the creative industries, such as software production, music production or fashion houses, tend to give workers responsible autonomy; in this situation workers have more freedom, less supervision and the workforce controls itself as workers have the desire to share their specialist knowledge. This results in higher levels of efficiency from workers and greater profits for a business.
Employers can use technology to control the organisation of the workforce
This strategy is also called techniques of scientific management (Taylorism, or Fordism). It is when the worker becomes an extension of the machine they are operating. Every little detail of the job is controlled, as the workers perform simple repetitive tasks in a set period of time.
As workers lack skills and knowledge of the whole production process, and also control over the speed of their tasks, they are removed from decision making at work. This tight control of the workforce reduces the power of workers over the labour process and ensures the maximum output of goods.
McDonaldization is a present day example of how business uses principles of scientific management in the workplace. Ritzer argues that the work practices of the fast food restaurant are dominating more sectors of the economy and can be seen in how the production process is streamlined, simplified and performed in one uniform ‘best’ way.
Technology A03
Although this technical control of the labour process is said to increase efficiency and production, it has also led to the deskilling of the workforce as only a low level of skill is required in production.
Technology A03
Although this technical control of the labour process is said to increase efficiency and production, it has also led to the deskilling of the workforce as only a low level of skill is required in production.
