The Division of Labour

By far the most striking feature of production in a devel­oped country is the fact that the worker almost never makes a complete product. Labour is divided in the sense that the production process is split into a very large number of individual operations and each operation is the special task of one worker. The principle of the division of labour is now carried to remarkable lengths and the production of rela­tively simple things may be broken down into hundreds of separate operations.

Adam Smith, writing in the latter part of the eighteenth century, provided what has now become the most celebrated account of specialization. On a visit to a factory engaged in making pins he observed: 'One man draws out the wire, another straightens it, a third cuts it, a fourth points it, a fifth grinds the top to receive the head; to make the head requires two or three distinct operations; to put it on is a peculiar business; to whiten it is another; it is even a trade in itself to put them into paper. The important business of making pins is, in this manner, divided into about 18 distinct operations'.

He estimated that production per day in this factory was about 5000 pins per person employed. If the whole opera­tion had been carried out from start to finish by each employee, Smith estimated that he would have been able to make only a few dozens each day.

Advantages of the division of labour

Why should specialization lead to such great increases in productivity? Smith followed up his description by an analysis which attempted to discover the reasons for the improved performance.

1. A person who spends his or her time performing one relatively simple task becomes extremely proficient at that particular operation. Constant repetition leads to great dex­terity, or, as most people would say, 'practice makes perfect'.

2. No time is wasted in moving from one job to anoth­er. The necessity of moving from station to station, putting down one set of tools and picking up another is eliminated.

3. There is a saving of time in the training of operatives. A man or woman can be trained very quickly for the perfor­mance of a single operation.

4. There is a saving of skill. Specialization means that many different occupations are created, each one of which calls for some particular aptitude. It is possible, therefore, for each worker to specialize in the job for which he or she is best suited.

5. One of the most important advantages of the divi­sion of labour is that it makes possible a much greater use of machinery. When a complex process has been broken down into a series of separate, simple processes it is pos­sible to devise machinery to carry out each individual operation. It would be extremely difficult, for example, to construct a machine which would carry out the whole business of making a chair, but once this has been reduced to series of separate operations, it becomes pos­sible to use electric saws, planning machines, power-dri­ven lathes, etc.

1. Read and translate text A.

2. Fill gaps with following words:

single, specialization, saving, process, split, means, task, productivity, occupations, performance

1. The production ... is ... into a very large number of individual operations.

2. Each operation is a special... of one worker.

3. There is a ... of time in the training of operatives.

4. Specialization ... that many different... are created.

5. A man or woman can be trained very quickly for the ... of a ... operation.

6.... leads to a great increases in ...

3. Find synonyms among the words:

waste, train, construct, complete, split, require, per­form, constant, full, need, carry out, divide, perma­nent, lose, teach, build

4. Find antonyms among the words:

easy, improve, quick, create, reduce, difficult, slow, break, worsen, increase

5. Make antonyms from the words:

complete, important, advantage, necessary, trained, possible

6. Translate the following word combination into English:

велика кількість окремих операцій, принцип розподілу праці, постійне повторювання, економія часу, одна з найважливіших переваг.

7.Give 3 forms of the verbs:

make, split, carry, break, write, cut, put, lead, spend, say, mean, call, become

8. Make up the sentences using the words:

1. almost, a, the, worker, makes, never, product, complete.

2. process, split, is, a, very, into, number, large, of, pro­duction, the, operations, individual.

3. special, one, of, the, each, worker, operation, task, is.

4. leads, great, constant, to, repetition, dexterity.

5. means, many, that, specialization, are, occupations, different, created.

6. labour, machinery, use, greater, the, of, division, much, a, possible, makes.

9. Fill gaps with preposition:

1. The principle ... the division ... labour is now carried ... remarkable lengths and the production ... relative­ly things may be broken down ... hundreds ...separate operations.

2. Adam Smith, writing ... the latter part ... the eigh­teenth century, provided what has now become the most celebrated account... specialization.

3. If the whole operation had been carried... from start ... finish ... one employee, Smith estimated that he would have been able to make only a few dozens each day.

4. A person who spends Ms or her time performing one relatively simple task becomes extremely proficient... that particular operation.

5. No time is wasted ... moving ... one job ... another.

6. It is possible ... each worker to specialize ... the job ... which he or she is best suited.

7. It would be extremely difficult to construct a machine which would carry... the whole business... making a chair.

8. Once this has been reduced... series... separate oper­ations, it becomes possible to use electric saws, power-driven lathes, etc.

10. Put the questions to the sentences:

1. The production process is split into a very large num­ber of individual operations.

2. Production per day in this factory was about 5000pins per person employed.

3. Constant repetition leads to great dexterity.

4. Specialization means that many different occupations are created.

5. A worker can be trained very quickly for the perfor­mance of a simple operation.

11. Do you know what form is correct?

1. The worker almost never (to make) a complete product.

2. Each operation ... (to be) a specific task of one worker.

3. The production of relatively simple things may ... (to break) into hundred separate operations.

4. Adam Smith ... (to provide) what... (to have) now... (to become) the most celebrated account of specialization.

5. If the whole operation ... (to carry out) from start to finish by one employee, he would ... (to be able to) make only a few dozens each day.

6. Why should specialization ... (to lead) to such great increases in productivity?

7. No time ... (to waste) in moving from one job to another.

8. The division of labour ... (to make) possible a much greater use of machinery.

12. How do you think?

1. What is the most striking feature of production in a developed country?

2. Why does specialization dead to great increases in productivity?

13. Have you ever mind what is the principle of the division of labour?

14. Point out the advantages of the division of labour.

15. Read the text B and title its abstracts, can you?

Text В