116k views
5 votes
Jacques is the only employee in the department who has been with the company for more than one year. As a result, he is the only one who knows what to do when unforeseen things happen. The other employees depend on him because the knowledge that he has is

a. powerful.
b. scarce.
c. timely.
d. political.
e. hearsay.

User Dylnmc
by
7.2k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Jacques's unique knowledge due to his tenure at the company is considered 'scarce'. Scarce knowledge is a vital asset in business environments as it provides a competitive edge, but it does not imply that a single individual should perform all tasks, even if they have an absolute advantage in all areas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The knowledge that Jacques has can be best described as scarce. In the context provided, Jacques is the only employee in his department who has been with the company for more than a year. His unique experience means that he has the insight and know-how to handle unforeseen events, making his knowledge a valuable and limited resource. This scarcity is what the other employees depend on when they face situations they are unfamiliar with. In business, scarce knowledge can be a significant asset; it becomes a form of intellectual capital that can give a competitive edge to an organization, especially in decision-making and problem-solving scenarios.

In contrast to the scenario with Jethro and his friends, where Jethro has an absolute advantage in camping skills, it's not efficient for him to handle all the tasks alone. Division of labor, even when one person is superior in all tasks, can lead to better overall group efficiency.

Thus, scarce knowledge is a critical asset in business, but it's also crucial to understand the value of distributing tasks effectively to maximize productivity and sustainability within a team.

User Avrono
by
7.7k points