Of Legos and Labour

        An effective workplace is not a place where your material needs and wants are met. Rather, we need a workplace where we are motivated to accomplish tasks and given meaning in our labour. An example of this is expressed well by Ariely in his Ted Talk What makes us feel good about our work? when he explains that it's the fruit of our labour that motivates us, far more than the actual material aspects of our labour. 

Even the people who enjoyed doing the Lego felt little joy in their work if it was shown to be futile. Work that is felt to be futile and menial, no matter how productive and efficient it is, will probably be ineffective and inefficient in the long run. 

Although specialization in labour means that things can be produced more efficiently in theory, can we foster a workplace that is specialized but gives meaning and acknowledgement? I think this is possible if we create an environment in which work is specialized but each worker participates in some way in management of the company, or carrying out the product to the larger public.

Watch Ariely's Ted Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aH2Ppjpcho