The world of work is made up of connections between social and business enterprises. Each of these enterprises relies to some extent on others to provide the materials, services or information that keep it functioning.
Look at the production of a loaf of bread, for example. By the time it’s become toast on your breakfast table, it’s been on quite a journey.
Steps on the 'toast' journey
Step 1: Farm
A farmer plants wheat seed, and grows and harvests wheat.
Step 2: Transport
A truck driver transports the grain to the storage silos, and from there to the miller.
Step 3: Mill
The miller grinds the wheat into flour.
Step 4: Transport
The flour is trucked to the bakery.
Step 5: Bakery
The baker mixes the flour with water, yeast and other ingredients and bakes it into bread.
Step 6: Packaging and transport
The bread is sliced and packed in plastic bags before it is trucked to the shop or supermarket.
Step 7: Shop
In the shop, staff stack the bread on the shelves. A customer buys a loaf of bread and takes it home.
Step 8: Cooking/preparing
The consumer toasts the bread in a grill or a toaster, uses a knife to spread butter and jam etc. on the slice, and serves it on a plate.
Step 9: Garbage collection
Any leftover scraps, crusts and packaging are thrown out and collected by the council garbage truck and taken to the dump.
Resources used on the journey
Many people and resources were needed to create your piece of toast and put it on your breakfast plate. Here are some of them. Can you think of any other resources that were involved in any of the steps?
Step 1: Farm
- Farm workers (e.g. farmer, labourer)
- Government: standards and wheat prices
- Farm machinery manufacturer
- Fuel and parts for farm machinery
Steps 2 and 4: Transport
- Transport workers (e.g. truck drivers, mechanics)
- Fuel and parts for trucks
- Truck manufacturer
Step 3: Mill
- Mill workers (e.g. miller, mill manager)
- Power to mill the wheat
- Mill machinery manufacturer
Step 5: Bakery
- Bakery workers (e.g. baker, assistant, apprentice)
- Government: health regulations
- Power to mix dough, run bread oven
- Yeast, water, other grains
Step 6: Packaging and transport
- Packers
- Transport workers (e.g. truck drivers, mechanics)
- Fuel and parts for trucks
- Plastic bag manufacturer
- Blade manufacturer
Step 7: Supermarket
- Retail staff (e.g. shelf stacker, cashier, cleaner)
- Building construction—supermarket
Step 8: Preparing/serving
- Dairy farmers, fruit growers
- Cutlery manufacturers
- Crockery manufacturers
Step 9: Garbage collection
- Garbage collectors
- Fuel and parts for garbage trucks
- Garbage truck manufacturer
- Garbage bin manufacturer
Sector, industries and career fields involved
Sectors
The government sector sets standards, makes laws and is involved in the pricing of wheat and transport.
The private sector provides the wheat, transport and retail outlet.
The community sector may play an indirect role. For example, a conservation group may have input into farming practices, or concerned consumer groups may influence the nutritional content of the bread.
Industries
Primary industry is responsible for growing the wheat and the yeast, and providing dairy and fruit products to add to the toast.
Secondary industry mills the wheat and creates the bread.
Tertiary industry transports and sells the bread to the consumer.
Career fields
Some of the people involved in bringing you your toast are:
- Farm workers
- Mill workers
- Bakery workers
- Retail staff
- Transport workers.
Further information