According to Woodward, which production type is associated with skilled, happy workers?

• A. Large batch - semi-skilled unhappy workers
• B. Process tech - highly skilled happy workers
• C. Small batch - skilled, happy workers
• D. Mass production - standardized and unhappy workers

Answer: (C)

In Woodward’s framework, the type of production technology shapes how work is organized and how workers experience it. Small batch production involves flexible, varied tasks and requires workers to use judgment and skills across different jobs. This variety and the sense of problem-solving autonomy tend to make skilled workers feel more engaged and satisfied, so they’re described as happy.

By contrast, large batch and mass production rely on standardized, repetitive tasks that don’t change much from unit to unit. That tends to use less skilled, more specialized labor and can lead to lower job satisfaction. Process technology (continuous flow) involves highly automated, tightly controlled processes where the work is more routine and engineering-focused, which doesn’t align with the same level of worker happiness associated with small batch work.

So the option that pairs small batch production with skilled, happy workers best fits Woodward’s ideas about how production technology and job design influence worker morale.