Division of Labour


Division of labour is an area of job design that is highly applicable in some factories and production line environments. Case study evidence, relevant success factors and the strengths and limitations of division of labour approaches are presented.

Technique Overview

Division of Labour

Division of Labour Definition

The main focus of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" lies in the concept of economic growth. Growth, according to Smith, is rooted in the increasing division of labour. This idea refers to "the specialisation of the labour force, essentially the breaking down of large jobs into many tiny components. Under this regime each worker becomes an expert in one isolated area of production, thus increasing his [or her] efficiency" (Dhamee, 1996).

Division of Labour Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Division of Labour *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Division of Labour *

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Professional Tools

Division of Labour videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Division of Labour web and print resources *

Division of Labour references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Burnes, B. (2009) Managing Change, Pearson, UK.
  • Dhamee, Y. (1996) Adam Smith and the Division of Labor. [online] Available at: (http://www.victorianweb.org/economics/division.html) [Accessed October 2015].
  • Draganidis, F. and Mentzas, G. (2006) Competency Based Management: A Review of Systems and Approaches, Information Management & Computer Security, 14(1), 51-64.
  • Groenewegen, P. D. (1987). Division of labor, in J. Eatwell, M. Milgate and P. Newman, eds., The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, Macmillan, London, pp. 901- 7.

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