- Unlike microtasks, which support workers such that they would not require much expertise or context, macrotask crowdsourcing depends on workers with expert knowledge in one or more domains.
- While simple tasks can be easily decomposed and accomplished through microtasks, macrotask crowdsourcing can benefit complex tasks that involve open-ended and innovation-oriented work. 

Macrotasks in Crowd Work

Differences have been noted in terms of performance between microtasks and macrotasks. These are related to the time taken to complete them, their quality/accuracy, and the workers' preferences. There are also differences in the effects of interruption on micro- and macrotasks.


Performance Differences In Micro- and Macrotasks

Macrotasking refers to complex jobs that cannot be effectively broken down into simpler tasks. These may take a significant amount of time to complete.

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Boston College

- Macro-productivity
- Micro-productivity
- Multitasking productivity

Focuses of Productivity in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Haas, D., Ansel, J., Gu, L., & Marcus, A. (2015). Argonaut: Macrotask crowdsourcing for complex data processing. Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment, 8(12), 1642-1653.

Argonaut: Macrotask Crowdsourcing for
Complex Data Processing

The term multitasking (or time sharing) was first used to describe the sharing of computing processor capacity amongst a number of distinct jobs (e.g., Denning (1971)). In the workplace today, human multitasking is a natural response to the increased demand from a growing number of competing activities. 

Multitasking

The act of decomposing tasks into smaller microtasks that leverage micromoments (specific, strategic moments that occur during a person's day).

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