Emile Durkheim talks about the division of labor. The division of labor we are most familiar with is the idea of a given task being broken up and specified to different people. These tasks can consist of making a coat. One person is responsible in gathering the material, another puts it together, another may assemble the zipper, and another may put on the buttons. Although these are types of labor that can be divided, Durkheim feels that we are looking at this division of labor at a micro level. Durkheim believes that the division of labor is essential to society because it is more efficient and not only one person can do everything and still be efficient. Therefore, Durkheim looks at the division of labor at a macro level. Durkheim looks at the division of labor as specialties and different people having different roles. Durkheim feels when this happens, things become more efficient. Durkheim describes the division of labor as having three functions which are that it increases the skill of workers because these workers are able to concentrate on one thing to become better at it, it fulfills society’s needs, and it creates solidarity involving internal and external control.
One great example Durkheim’s division of labor is doctors. There are different types of doctors that specialize in different things that we visit when certain things happen. It would be almost impossible to see a doctor as often as we have now if the tasks in that specialty weren’t divided. We have primary doctors to go to when something is ailing us however, when a doctor feel that a problem is concentrated in a specific area, he or she may refer you to someone who knows more about that area than they do. With this division of labor happening in this specialty like being a doctor, doctors can better understand the human body and it would not take years to see a doctor every time something goes wrong.
Another example could be paying one’s mobile phone bill. If there is a problem concerning one’s phone, a person first begins by calling a regular representative at customer service. If there happens to be a technical problem wrong with your phone, that representative can try some basic trouble shooting to see if that solves the problem. However, when none of those trouble shooting ideas help, they say that they have to direct your call to the technical support department. They even ask to specify the phone you are using to send your call to that specific department in technical support so to better help you. By doing this, those individuals in that department were able to concentrate on that one specialty like technical support for that specific phone to be more efficient in solving the problem. If there was just one technical support for all the phones, time would be spent waiting on the representative to look up the phone, read instructions on how to trouble shoot it, and just hope that it works because that’s all they would be able to do with the lack of study and knowledge.
I agree with Durkheim that the division of labor is essential in society because it keeps things orderly. It does create a thing where each individual becomes dependent on the other however these things still work together for the good of society.
One great example Durkheim’s division of labor is doctors. There are different types of doctors that specialize in different things that we visit when certain things happen. It would be almost impossible to see a doctor as often as we have now if the tasks in that specialty weren’t divided. We have primary doctors to go to when something is ailing us however, when a doctor feel that a problem is concentrated in a specific area, he or she may refer you to someone who knows more about that area than they do. With this division of labor happening in this specialty like being a doctor, doctors can better understand the human body and it would not take years to see a doctor every time something goes wrong.
Another example could be paying one’s mobile phone bill. If there is a problem concerning one’s phone, a person first begins by calling a regular representative at customer service. If there happens to be a technical problem wrong with your phone, that representative can try some basic trouble shooting to see if that solves the problem. However, when none of those trouble shooting ideas help, they say that they have to direct your call to the technical support department. They even ask to specify the phone you are using to send your call to that specific department in technical support so to better help you. By doing this, those individuals in that department were able to concentrate on that one specialty like technical support for that specific phone to be more efficient in solving the problem. If there was just one technical support for all the phones, time would be spent waiting on the representative to look up the phone, read instructions on how to trouble shoot it, and just hope that it works because that’s all they would be able to do with the lack of study and knowledge.
I agree with Durkheim that the division of labor is essential in society because it keeps things orderly. It does create a thing where each individual becomes dependent on the other however these things still work together for the good of society.