Question

define the social and detailed division of labor in reference to Braverman. provide examples as well for each of them

thank you

Answer 1

Braverman states the detailed division of labor. The social division of labor, or the breakdown of the social labor on the basis of craft specialization, has existed in all known societies.

Braverman starts his work with an identification of facts of the human workplace. He distinguishes between labor, or capacity to work, and labor power, or actual work done. In Braverman's opinion, labor (one's work capacity) is never bargained; it is only labor power (the actual work one does) that is sold in the work contract. Labor is an infinite commodity, but labor power is finite. He also suggests that the desire to labor is innately ingrained in humans; a human's reasoning abilities makes work a purposeful action.

Management is represented as the upper class in the Marxist conflict between the classes. Workplace struggles were caused by the few (management) controlling the many (workers). Braverman relates this to capitalism, in which self-interest is key to all labor processes. He notes that capitalistic division of labor goes against nature.

In his work, Braverman overtly connects sociology with economics by pointing out the impact capitalism had on family life and traditional agricultural endeavors.

Braverman goes on to discuss the growing working-class population in the country. He reaffirms that it is the labor of the working class that creates capital for the capitalists to use to control the laborers. It is a circle of imbalance, as the capitalists require more productive labor (defined as that which produces capital), and laborers are pushed into deep levels of control as capitalists focus solely on productivity.

Examples

Apple products. “Designed in California, produced in China”. A new iPhone has innumerable examples of division of labour. The process is split up into many different parts. Design, hardware, software, manufacture, marketing, production and assembly.

Food production. There is an even greater division of labour in food production. Farmers will buy seeds, fertilisers and tractors from different companies. They will just concentrate on one aspect of food production. The tools and food processing is handled by different workers and a different stage in the production cycle.

Ford motor factories.  Henry Ford made use of the assembly line to increase the productivity of producing motor cars. On the assembly line, there was a division of labour with workers concentrating on particular jobs.