SPECIALIZATION, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

What is Specialisation?
Through years, production has developed into a complicated process and thus
broken down into a series of highly specialised task. Each task is then performed by
a worker. This is known as Division of Labour.

Advantages of Division of Labour

Practise makes perfect: Worker specialises in a particular task and gives in the
best, thus producing goods faster and less wastage of material. (FASTER)
Use of machinery: Specialised machinery can be used which is further increase
the productivity.
Increased Output: with improvement in efficiency and use of machinery output is
increased.
Saves time: There is no time wasted in switching of jobs and thus the momentum of
production can be maintained which leads to less wastage of time.
Disadvantages of Division of Labour
Boredom: Performing the same task over and over again may lead to boredom for
the workers.
Lack of variety: Though the number of goods produced increases but they are
identical or standardized.
Low motivation for worker: Repeatedly performing the same task may lead to low
motivation level for the worker. The worker might not have the sense of fulfilling a
complete task as he is performing only a part of the job.
Lack of mobility: Due to specialisation workers might find it difficult to switch
between occupations.
ADVANTAGES OF SPECIALISATION / DIVISION OF LABOUR
To the business:
- Specialist workers become quicker at producing goods
- Production becomes cheaper per good because of this
- Production levels are increased
- Each worker can concentrate on what they are good at and build up their expertise

To the worker:
- Increases productivity
Higher pay for specialised work
- Improved skills at that job.

DISADVANTAGES OF SPECIALISATION / DIVISION OF LABOUR

To the business:
- Greater cost of training workers
-Quality may suffer if workers become bored by the lack of variety in their jobs
To the worker:

- Boredom as they do the same job

- Their quality and skills may suffer
- May eventually be replaced by machinery