Management Principles

Step 1: Define Division of Labor. Division of labor, also known as specialization, is a foundational principle in management and economics. It is the separation of a work process into a number of tasks, with each task performed by a separate person or group of persons.

Step 2: Identify the core idea. The central idea is that instead of one person doing all the steps of a complex job, the job is broken down into simple, repetitive tasks. Each individual then specializes in and performs only one of these tasks (a single function). This was famously described by Adam Smith with the example of a pin factory and was a key principle in Henri Fayol's management theory.

Step 3: Analyze the options. The option that most accurately and directly expresses this core idea is: Each individual should perform a single function. This leads to increased efficiency, expertise, and productivity.