Final answer:
The division of labor is the allocation of tasks and responsibilities among individuals or groups, exemplified by an assembly line where each worker performs a specific role. In a restaurant, an effective division of labor would typically involve different roles for hostesses and servers, although this might be adapted in certain situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The division of labor is best defined as b) The allocation of tasks and responsibilities among individuals or groups. In any bureaucracy or organized system, roles are distributed to enhance efficiency and productivity by ensuring that every individual or team has a specific function. For instance, in an assembly line, workers are assigned individual tasks that contribute to the making of a product. Each person becomes proficient at their particular task, streamlining the production process and saving time.
Considering the scenario of a restaurant, the ideal division of labor would mean that the hostess focuses on seating customers while other staff members, like servers or food runners, manage the delivery of food. Businesses need to evaluate their organizational structures to decide whether such segregation of tasks leads to increased efficiency or if cross-role assistance is necessary when operations are challenged, such as when food is backed up in the kitchen.