Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

Term: 2^nd Term

Week: 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 15 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Economics

Topic:-       Division and specialization

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Define division of labour and specialization
2. State examples, advantages and disadvantages of division of labour
3. Discuss specialization, distinguishing its types

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

DIVISION AND SPECIALIZATION

Division of labour is the breaking of production processes into smaller units or processes with each process being undertaking by a worker or group of workers.

Division of labour is a complex process mainly practiced in industry where workers specialize in the production of a small portion of a production, and may not see the end product and may not make use of it.

ORIGIN OF DIVISION OF LABOUR
Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) popularly called the “Father of economics” established the theory of Division of labour in 1776 . He visited a pin making factory place where he found out that eighteen (18) processes are involved with only ten men working there producing 20 pins a day .

He concluded that if each process is handled by different individuals more pins will be produced. The theory was applied and as a result 48,000 pins were produced daily. This development was the origin of modern day division of labour.

Examples of Division of Labour

i Division of labour in domestic work.
ii Division of labour in factory/industry
iii Territorial division of labour among separate firms, eg Textile industry
iv Extensive division of labour among different countries

ADVANTAGES

1. It leads to higher productivity.
2. It encourages specialization.
3. Creation of job opportunity is possible.
4. There is product standardization.
5. It saves a lot of production time.
6. It encourages the use of machines.
7. Work becomes less fatigue.
8. Easy training of workers.
9. it encourages inventions and innovations.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Monotony of work.
2. Decline in craftsmanship.
3. The use of machine reduces employment opportunities.
4. Some machine can badly affect the health of the workers.
5. Increase in interdependence among individuals and industries.

LIMITATIONS

1. The Size of the Market: The extent to which goods and services produced are demanded will determine whether or not division of labour will de applied since the main reason for it is to increase supply.
2. The Nature of the Product:- Certain responsibilities or services cannot be divided e.g. hair cutting , driving , farming etc.
3. Availability of Factors Inputs (e.g. Labour )
4. Capital Availability
5. Level of Technology Availability
6. Managerial Competence
7. Technical Difficulties

SPECIALIZATION

Specialization is the process by which an individual, a firm or a country concentrates his or its productive efforts on a particular line of production in which he or it has the greatest advantages over others. That is, it is the act of limiting one’s productive efforts to a particular aspect of economic activity.

Division of labour is one aspect of specialization.

People could specialize in law , medicine , teaching , sport etc. Specialization is a result of Division of Labour. This process depends on the type , size of the firm and goods and services produced . Though it applies to industrial and agricultural economy, it is useful in family and individual set-ups.

TYPES OF SPECIALISATION

1. Specialization by Process: is the type in which production process is divided into different stages for each skilled worker in an industry.
2. Specialization by Sex: is the type in which certain occupations are exclusively either for male or female as dictated by custom, tradition or by law.
3. Specialization by Product: is the type in which an individual or a firm concentrates on the production of a particular commodity.
4. Geographical/Territorial Specialization: is the type in which certain region or territory specializes in the production of a particular commodity

EVALUATION:    1. Define division of labour

2. Write a brief history about the origin of division of labour
3. State three each of the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of division of labour
4. Define specialization
5. Discuss the types of specialization

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively