Class XI, Principles of Economics, "Division of Labour"

Division of Labour

Definition
The splitting of the production process on to its components process is known as division of labour. Each process is entrusted into a separate set of workers so that all of them co-operate to produce a single product. Division of labour is the result of specialization. Different workers who are assigned specific operation are specialized and skilled in their work.
Division of labour today is an important characteristic of the system of production. Infect there is hardly any producing unit of respectable size which does not organize production on the basis of division of labour.
Kinds of Division of Labour
Following are the types of the division of labour:
1. Simple Division Of Labour
It means the division of society in to major sections each specialized in occupations e.g. carpenter weavers blacksmith etc.
2. Complex Division of Labour:
In this case no groups of workers make a complete article. Instead the making of the article is split up into number of process and sub-process and each is carried out by a separate group of people.
3. Irrational or Geographical Division of Labour
This form refers to certain localities cities or towns specializing in the production of a particular commodity. It is also called localization of industries or regional division.
4. Occupational Division of Labour
It refers to professional division of labour i.e. each and every person be engaged in different office and job. For example some one working as a clerk, other as a manager, a lecturer in a college etc.