. When a worker specializes in one task, he focuses on that one function in the
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Question
. When a worker specializes in one task, he focuses on that one function in the production process, ignoring the whole system. This is likely to: A. increase the cross-training costs. B. eliminate trade-offs since only one task is undertaken by each employee. C. lead to greater complementarity between one task and another. D. result in functional myopia that reduces overall productivity.
. The most famous story about organizing tasks into jobs comes from Adam Smith's tale of the pin factory. In that story, he argues that: A. specialization of jobs into simple tasks increases productivity. B. cross-training is critical for productivity. C. coordination is the biggest problem for factory efficiency. D. one worker should be assigned all the tasks in pin construction.
Explanation / Answer
Answer to Question 1: Result in functional myopia that reduces overall productivity.
Explanation: Because due to specialization, workers only concentrates on his/her own task and slowly forgets all other tasks of the company. This functional myopia basically happens when the company grows. As each function expands, departments become larger, and the focus tends to narrow to the work of the department. In this situation employees forget company's overall goals.
Answer to Question 2: Specialization of jobs into simple tasks increases productivity.
Explanation: Adam Smith emphasized that increases in productivity can achieved through the division of labor and by specializing on simple tasks.
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