The Rise and Fall of the Division of Labour,the Past 25 Years

Abstract

Empirical research published during the past 25 years which focussed on the division of labour was reviewed. Identifiable themes indicated that researchers were principally interested in the relationship between segmentation and size, size/technology, size/administrative ratio, structure, and innovation. Additionally, two methodological issues, measurement and emergent/contextual, were the subjects of numerous articles. Despite the substantial decline in the number of articles published since the early 1970s, the nature of several interrelationships remains undetermined. Researchers were urged to pursue these topics within the current broader conception of organiz ations.