Division of labour
Division of labour Today
Today, the world we live in, is progressing so rapidly. Be it, the increasing number of mega cities, the tremendous advances in medicine, the huge number of products that we depend on everyday, the wonders of internet, the satellites and the space ships, nothing has been the same with the never-ending human desire for better life. If we wonder how it was all possible? Well, the answer that Adam Smith gives is 'Division of Labour '.
Today, even simplest form of labour like, our day-to-day domestic work, is divided between services like house maids, milkman, laundry services, daycares, transport services, along with restaurants or food deliveries. Most of the times, we do not realise how the concept of division of labour is more central to our lives than we think. Right from the beginning of the human life, to this day of gaint super-compters, the division of labour has made all the difference.
The division of labour brings in greater productivity of labour. If not for this productivity, today would have been only slightly different than the ice ages. This basic need for division of labour comes from the human desire to lead a better life. According to Smith, part of what makes us human, is our propensity to truck, barter, and exchange items. If everyone were to produce everything they need, there would be very less scope for any sort of innovation and a lot of time in would be wasted in changing tools and materials. But, with the help of the division of labour, leading to efficiencies and surpluses, each member of the society could trade the fruits of his/her labour for other objects that are needed. This would result in the improvement of quality of life and a win-win situation.
Division of labour creates specialized knowledge of a particular task. It saves the laborer time as the time needed to adjust to new physical or mental frame works is eliminated. Doing the same thing over and over, leads to innovation in the methods and
Today, the world we live in, is progressing so rapidly. Be it, the increasing number of mega cities, the tremendous advances in medicine, the huge number of products that we depend on everyday, the wonders of internet, the satellites and the space ships, nothing has been the same with the never-ending human desire for better life. If we wonder how it was all possible? Well, the answer that Adam Smith gives is 'Division of Labour '.
Today, even simplest form of labour like, our day-to-day domestic work, is divided between services like house maids, milkman, laundry services, daycares, transport services, along with restaurants or food deliveries. Most of the times, we do not realise how the concept of division of labour is more central to our lives than we think. Right from the beginning of the human life, to this day of gaint super-compters, the division of labour has made all the difference.
The division of labour brings in greater productivity of labour. If not for this productivity, today would have been only slightly different than the ice ages. This basic need for division of labour comes from the human desire to lead a better life. According to Smith, part of what makes us human, is our propensity to truck, barter, and exchange items. If everyone were to produce everything they need, there would be very less scope for any sort of innovation and a lot of time in would be wasted in changing tools and materials. But, with the help of the division of labour, leading to efficiencies and surpluses, each member of the society could trade the fruits of his/her labour for other objects that are needed. This would result in the improvement of quality of life and a win-win situation.
Division of labour creates specialized knowledge of a particular task. It saves the laborer time as the time needed to adjust to new physical or mental frame works is eliminated. Doing the same thing over and over, leads to innovation in the methods and
References: [1] Division of labour between Humans and Computer [ Pg 2, 'NewDivision of Labour ', Frank Levy and Richard J. Murname, Princeton University Press] [2] [World Employemnt Report 2001, Life at work in the informational economy. International Labour office, Geneva. Pg 4 ,7 ] cinema - animation -