Theory question 101
ProductionCommerce 2 (theory)
(a) Explain two factors that limit the application of division of labour.
(b) State three disadvantages of division of labour.
(c) State five advantages of division of labour.
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(a) Any two, explained: size of the market (a small market cannot absorb large output); nature of the product/production process (some goods or direct services cannot be split into stages); shortage of capital for machines and wages; shortage of skilled labour; poor transport and communication.
(b) Any three: monotony and boredom from repeating one task; loss of craftsmanship; workers become interdependent, so one absence can stop production; risk of unemployment when a worker's single skill is no longer needed; workers become less mobile between jobs; over-production.
(c) Any five: workers become more skilled through repetition; more output (mass production); saves time as workers do not move from job to job; encourages use of machinery; each worker does the job he is best at; leads to inventions; creates more jobs; better quality goods; lower cost per unit.
Limits (a) are conditions that stop work being split up; keep them separate from disadvantages (b).