Final answer:
An Independent contractor is the individual who decides when, where, and how work will be performed and can subcontract parts of the project. The correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who has the autonomy to decide when, where, and how work will be performed, with the ability to subcontract parts of a project and choose the tools and methods to complete it, is known as an Independent contractor. These contractors commonly work within broad guidelines but retain control over the specifics of the task at hand. This control differs from that of employees, who must follow the instructions of their employers, or temporary workers, who fulfill roles for limited time periods.
Labor, whether physical or mental, is foundational in various professions. For instance, a contractor employs both mental labor in planning and coordinating construction tasks and physical labor in building. This is similar to a surgeon, who uses both mental acumen and physical skill in surgery. Moreover, when multinational corporations (MNCs) outsource work, subcontracting layers can make it challenging to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions due to the difficulty in tracking how and where products are produced.
Independent contractors have the right to subcontract work, exemplified by how complex subcontracting can become in the global economy, as seen with MNCs. When deciding who controls the work process and under what arrangement, it's clear that an Independent contractor fits the description provided in the question.