Commerce WASSCE (SC), 2022

Question 1

 

In a carpentry workshop of three employees, one is responsible for cutting the wood, another for fixing and a third for polishing and praying the furniture.

 

  1. Identify the term that described the production process the workshop uses.
  2. (i)   State five advantages of the production process identified in 1 (a). to the workshop.

(ii)  State four disadvantages of the production process identified in 1 (a). to the workshop.

Observation

Most candidates who attempted this question performed brilliantly.

The expected responses are.

 

            (a)        The term used to describe the production process is division of labour.    

   

            (b)  i. Advantages of Division of Labour

  1. The workers would be highly productive as a result of specialized tools, machinery and equipment being used. / Increase in production.
  2. There would be greater efficiency as a result of individual and collective responsibility in the production process. / Better Production technology.
  3. The period of training workers would be reduced thereby making staff replacement easy.
  4. There would be economy in the use of tools as workers do not have to move from one process to another.
  5. There will be efficiency in terms of time spent in production.
  6. Large scale production would result due to specialization. / Economies of large scale.
  7. The process will lead to the development of sophisticated equipment would reduce the stress of staff.
  8. There would be an increase in skills and mobility of labour within the work place.
  9. There would be reduction in cost of production leading to lowering of the selling price to attract more customers.                                              

              

 ii.     Disadvantages of Division of Labour

  1. Work becomes repetitive and workers will lose interest in the work being done. (Monotony).
  2. Absence of one worker could delay the work being done which reduces productivity.
  3. The start-up cost will be high as initial cost necessary to buy specialist machinery may lead to a higher break-even point.
  4. The workers may not feel responsible for the result of the process in which they contribute.
  5. There is the danger of one unit over producing than the other unit if not well monitored.

                        Inefficiency of one worker would affect the production process.