Practise division-of-labour evaluation by balancing specialist-task productivity gains against boredom, motivation and flexibility issues.
With reference to the data above and your knowledge of economics, assess whether a firm, such as a fast food restaurant, always benefits from using division of labour.
AO2 (3 marks)/AO3 (3 marks)/AO4 (3 marks)
AO2 and AO3
- Division of labour is where the production process is split into small tasks
- It means that each worker can specialise on a single part of the production process, such as chopping lettuce to put in burgers or peeling potatoes to make the fries
- This means they can become more skilled at that particular task and removes the need to move around the kitchen as much
- Employees are therefore much faster, increasing efficiency and reducing cost per unit for firms
- Employees may also enjoy their job more because they are better at it, making them more motivated and increasing productivity
- Therefore customers at the fast food restaurants can be served more quickly, in-keeping with the concept of 'fast food' and leading to higher profits for the firm
A04
- However, employees may find repeating the same task boring, especially if it is something straightforward such as frying burgers
- Therefore they may actually become demotivated instead and this could increase staff turnover
- This could lead to a decrease in productivity and/or higher costs for the restaurant if it needs to replace employees
- Mistakes or slow production at one stage (such as chopping lettuce) may hold up a later stage and therefore customers would still need to wait for their orders
Level
Mark
Descriptor
0
No rewardable material.
Level 1
1-3
- Demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding by developing relevant points. Limited application of economic terms, concepts, theories and calculations (AO2).
- Information presented will lack selectivity and organisation. Interpretation of economic information will be limited, with a lack of analysis of issues (AO3).
- Only offers one viewpoint, meaning there is an unbalanced and incomplete evaluation, showing limited understanding and awareness (AO4).
Level 2
4-6
- Demonstrates partial knowledge and understanding by developing relevant points. Partial application of economic terms, concepts, theories and calculations (AO2).
- Information presented will demonstrate some selectivity and organisation. Interpretation of economic information will be good, with some analysis of issues (AO3).
- Offers more than one viewpoint but the argument may lack balance, leading to an evaluation that may not demonstrate full understanding and awareness (AO4).
Level 3
7-9
- Demonstrates clear knowledge and understanding by developing relevant points. Appropriate application of economic terms, concepts, theories and calculations (AO2).
- Information presented will demonstrate excellent selectivity and organisation. Interpretation of economic information will be excellent, with a thorough analysis of issues (AO3).
- Offers more than one viewpoint. The argument is well balanced and coherent, leading to an evaluation that demonstrates full understanding and awareness (AO4).
Question
Number
Which one of the following factors may cause a shift of the demand
curve?
Mark
Answer