Division of labour is an outstanding feature of the modern organization of production. In its modern sense, it means the splitting up of the process of production. In primitive societies, every man produced what he required for his own use. There was no division of labour. But with the progress of civilization men learnt that it was not economic for the same man to be a hunter, a fisherman, a weaver and a farmer. So each began to adopt one particular occupation. Some, for example, adopted the profession of pottery, others became cobblers, still others carpenters, and so on. Thus specialization in occupation began. Division of labour has therefore, resulted in specialization.
Every one became specialized in producing one article. A man secured his other necessities in exchange of his surplus products. Division of labour therefore also means exchange.
With the passing of time, the division of labour has been carried further. In our present economic system every productive function has been divided into the minute processes, and each process has been entrusted to different sets of individual. Nowadays nothing can be produced without co-operation among the individuals or groups who are entrusted with different processes in producing a thing. Now, none produces a thing from beginning to end. For instance in the USA
So the division of labour now means specialization, exchange and co-operation. The same fact has been stated by Henry Clay he said, “From the point of view of the individual the division of labour means specialization; from one point of view the it means co-operation.”
Forms of Division of Labour:
According to Pensons, there are four kinds of division of labour. These forms of Division of Labour are stated as under.
1. Division of labour into trades and Professions: It means one person adopts only one profession or trade. He produces a particular thing from the beginning to the end. The caste-system was based on this principle, for example some persons became weavers, some cobblers, some warriors, some priests and so on. Every caste is engaged in one particular occupation and produces a thing from the beginning to the end. This type of division was known even to the earliest society.
2. Division of labour into Complete Process: With the advance of civilization the division of labour proceeded further. For example, the function of cobbler is now divided into different parts and every part is done by a separate group of persons. One group rears cattle, another collects hides and another tans them. The finished product of one group provides for the raw materials for another group. Hence this division of labour is called division into complete processes.
3. The Division of labour into incomplete Processes: In modern times with the invention of machines each process in production is further divided and sub-divided. The tanning of leather which is a complete process is now, for example, divided into minute incomplete processes. Some scrape the hides, other cure them, still others tan them and so on. In a modern shoe making factory, some perhaps simply cut the leather, others stick it, some others sew the shoes and still other sew the uppers and so on. Thus each complete process has been sub-divided into many incomplete operations.
4. The Territorial Division of Labour: With the rapid development of the transport system each territory specialises in the production of a commodity for the production of which it possesses special advantages. This is also known as localisation of industries. For example Bangladesh Pakistan Lancashire in cotton goods.
These latter two types of division labour are also known as complex division of labour. Modern division of labour is the complex or minute division of labour in which one man does only a small fraction of the whole work.
Advantage of the Division of Labour:
The division of labour has the following advantages.
(i) It increases skill and dexterity of labourer. Due to division of labour every worker has to perform one single operation repeatedly through out the life. Thus the constant repetition of the same work makes him perfect, efficient and expert.
(ii) Division of labour makes easy distribution of works according to ability of workers. The skilled workers may be engaged in those operations which need skill and unskilled may be put to those works which require no skill.
(iii) Division of labour saves time. As each worker has to de-continuously only a single operation, he has not to waste time in passing from on work to another work or from one tool to another.
(iv) It also leads to saving tools. As each worker has to perform only one operation, he requires only one set of tools. He engages his tools continuously. If on the other hand, he has to do more than one operation, he has to keep different sets of tools. The result would be that when he works with one set of tools, the other sets may remain idle. So the division of labour makes possible a great economy in the use of tools.
(v) It gives maximum satisfaction at minimum effort. Because it enables the people of different regions to devote their labour in producing those commodities for which they have special facilities. This arrangement for production gives maximum satisfaction at minimum efforts.
(vi) The net result of division of labour is vast increase in output. The increased output result in reduction of cost which in its turn reduces the cost of living. Thus standard of living is raised.
Disadvantages of Division of Labour:
(i) It hampers the general efficiency of labour. A labourer who specialises himself in buttoning shoes may become expert in doing it but will remain incapable of doing any thing else and thus unsuitable to any other kinds of work.
(ii) Too much specialization leads to monotony of work. Such monotony of work deadens his mental faculties, curbs the artistic sense and narrows his vision.
(iii) The worker is deprived of the pleasure of completing a work and therefore he finds no interest in work.
(iv) Division of labour leads to factory system with all its evils, such as over-crowded towns, insanitary bustees, loss of health and character etc.
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