Division of labour refers to the partitioning of a production process into separate elements, with each part assigned to a different worker or set of workers. It is based on the idea that workers can attain a high degree of efficiency if they are restricted to one particular process. Division of labour is one of the hallmarks of the factory system, but can lead to the alienation of the workforce as the workers lose touch with the creative process.
A social division of labour divides workers according to their product: steelworkers, miners, and so on. Social division of labour refers to the separation of activities between individuals within society, and is often linked to the existence of classes. Marx's most important theoretical contribution was his sharp distinction between the social division and the technical or economic division of labour. That is, some forms of labour co-operation are due purely to technical necessity, but others are purely a result of a social control function related to a class and status hierarchy. If these two divisions are conflated, it might appear as though the existing division of labour is technically inevitable and immutable, rather than (in good part) socially constructed and influenced by power relationships.
2007-10-12 00:48:08
·
answer #1
·
answered by Sandy 7
·
1⤊
0⤋