Postive Results from Multi-tasking?
Jack Vinson has an interesting post about a Computerworld article that discusses some positive benefits of multi-tasking related to technology tools. One of the articles comments makes a nice point that much of what is being referred to as multi-tasking is simply switching between tasks.
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on Thursday, March 15th, 2007 at 10:37 pm and is filed under General Extension, Organizational Development/Strucuture, Technology.
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43 Folders has an interesting argument backed up by an article in the New York Times (citing various studies) that seems to dispute the theory that multi-tasking makes you more efficient/effective – if I read it correctly.
http://www.43folders.com/2007/03/26/nyt-multitasking/
Maybe the conclusion to draw from the Computerworld article is not so much related to multi-tasking, but to the idea that more IT literate people are more productive and get more input from others. – just a hypothesis
John ~
Good point. Some of the other folks that I’ve been reading (the more management types) see multi-tasking as having limited productivity and would argue that we need to add more chunks of uninterrupted time for concentration. See this post on “chunking” and time boxing as a tools for Extension professionals: http://extensiontrends.ag.ohio-state.edu/2006/09/03/chunking-and-time-boxing-as-a-middle-ground-to-multitasking/
Likely to be some generational issues involved too.
Part of it is probably terminology. I think the argument in the Computer World comment about multi-tasking and switching between tasks being different is on to something. I read the first as trying to do a lot at the same time, the second as shifting from one to the other in rapid succession – some folks will see no difference.
I also think you might be on to something with your hypothesis about IT literate people. When I’m switching between functions it seem to really confuse those that are not familiar with certain tech tools. For example, stopping in the middle of writing a paper to google something or go to a specific site.
Thanks for your thoughts.