Complete Guide to Job Specialization

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Job specialization often requires training and education but it provides you with a developed skill set that will make you more employable, efficient and successful in your role. When entering the workforce or looking for career advancement opportunities, it can be helpful to expand your knowledge and expertise in a specific area. This article explains what job specialization is, details some of the benefits and challenges associated with job specialization and provides a few examples.

What is job specialization? 

Job specialization, sometimes referred to as the division of labor, is a process in which employees develop specific skills, experience and knowledge in a particular area in order to gain the expertise required to perform certain aspects of a job. This process often involves extensive training and creates skilled employees who are able to complete tasks within their realm of expertise with minimum supervision.

Important aspects of job specialization

Here are a few of the concepts that are important to keep in mind when considering job specialization:

Feedback

In order for job specialization to be effective, there needs to be open communication between the employees and the manager. Feedback allows a supervisor to remain aware of which tasks have been completed, if they met the organization’s standards and if there are opportunities for improvement.

Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the level of control that an employee has when completing a task. Those with more specialized skill sets typically find it much easier to retain control over a task’s processes and outcomes.

Task significance

In order for you to become a successful specialist, it’s important that you understand the priority level that accompanies each responsibility, allowing you to more effectively multi-task and appreciate the relationship between your different job functions. For example, there may be some prerequisite tasks that should be completed in order to carry out others.

Task identity

Generally speaking, you can only be as effective as the job description that you have been given. With any position, but especially with specialized roles, it’s important to be aware of the responsibilities that fall within your purview as well as the tools and strategies that should be used for measuring and organizing them.

Skill variety

Before you can choose a job specialization that makes you more employable and effective in the workplace, you will need to gain an understanding of which skills are necessary to satisfy each job requirement. This will allow you to identify which areas to specialize in as well as the training that will be necessary to become a specialist in that area.

Advantages of job specialization

Here are some of the advantages of contributing to a streamlined workplace with job specialization:

Less transition time

There is a faster transition between each task.

Reduced risks

Employees have the ability to specialize in specific equipment, creating a safer work environment. However, in addition to increased safety, job specialization also minimizes the number of mistakes that will be made because you have a complete mastery of the tasks associated with your role.

Increased proficiency

You can develop expertise for certain tasks, allowing you to become proficient in your duties. This allows you to become a better employee and often provides an increased level of job stability because it would be much more difficult to fill your role. Additionally, your employer has likely invested resources, energy and time into your development, making them invested in your success.

Improved morale

Job specialization often leads to higher job satisfaction among your peers and better overall morale because there is a sense of purpose for the staff. As a result, companies that encourage specialization often experience improved performance, care and motivation from their employees.

More time-efficient

Because switching between workstations and tasks is eliminated, you will see an improvement in time management.

Higher status

Becoming a specialist will give you a higher status as an employee.

Industry recognition

An organization that employs and develops in-house specialists has a higher likelihood of becoming recognized in its industry.

Research and development

Specialization allows employees to conduct research and develop new, more efficient processes.

Increased wages

As you master increasingly complex tasks and become more specialized, you will likely be offered higher pay for your expertise.

Less stress

When a position has several job functions, it can lead to a high level of stress among employees as they try to meet expectations and responsibilities. Job specialization eliminates the need to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Challenges of job specialization

Though job specialization has many advantages for all parties involved, it can present some unique challenges, such as:

Monotonous tasks

Though becoming a specialist leads to an improved skill set and higher productivity, it can lead to restlessness or even job dissatisfaction. As a generalist, you are able to work within several roles with different sets of skills and responsibilities, whereas job specialists are committed to a specific set of tasks that are relatively unwavering.

Obsolete specialties

Specializing in a specific job function or role can lead to instability if that area of expertise becomes unnecessary. In order to maintain job security, it’s important that you stay informed of new technologies or techniques that will help keep you and your role relevant.

Inability to switch career focus

By becoming specialized in a specific field, task or role, it can make it more difficult to transition into a different field of expertise. Especially once you have earned several years of specialized experience.

Examples of job specialization

Job specialization can be found in almost every industry and at every level of employment. In fact, even academia plays a role in specialization, allowing students to choose areas of study that will prepare them to become specialists in their specific field. In addition to earning a specialized formal education, many organizations provide training to their employees that equips them to take over certain activities, such as human resources recruitment, social media or digital marketing. When an organization fosters specialization, it allows employees to become more effective and efficient within their role.

Perhaps one of the industries where it is easiest to visualize job specialization is manufacturing, specifically for employees who work on an assembly line. On an assembly line, production activities are broken up into simple tasks that are carried out by different employees throughout the process and system. Oftentimes, these employees become specialized in the specific role that they play and are responsible for repetitively completing one task.