Which statement describes a potential drawback of overusing division of labour?

Which statement describes a potential drawback of overusing division of labour?

• A. Increased flexibility
• B. Worker boredom and reduced flexibility
• C. Higher productivity
• D. Improved teamwork

Answer: (B)

Overusing division of labour can lead to boredom and reduced flexibility. When work is split into very narrow, repetitive tasks, workers can become tired of doing the same thing again and again. This boredom lowers motivation and may reduce the quality of work or increase absenteeism. At the same time, highly specialized tasks mean workers are less able to switch to other duties if production needs change, making the workforce less flexible and harder to redeploy. So the described drawback is that workers may become bored and the firm loses flexibility. The other options describe typical benefits of division of labour, such as being able to move quickly with tasks, achieve higher output, or improve teamwork.

Overusing division of labour can lead to boredom and reduced flexibility. When work is split into very narrow, repetitive tasks, workers can become tired of doing the same thing again and again. This boredom lowers motivation and may reduce the quality of work or increase absenteeism. At the same time, highly specialized tasks mean workers are less able to switch to other duties if production needs change, making the workforce less flexible and harder to redeploy.

So the described drawback is that workers may become bored and the firm loses flexibility. The other options describe typical benefits of division of labour, such as being able to move quickly with tasks, achieve higher output, or improve teamwork.