People can switch and look at the problem again with a fresh perspective if they get stuck.

The privilege of switching tasks

Contingency.

The benefits of multitasking are apparent when tasks are contingent, such as seeing old problems from a new perspective. As opposed to previous experiments, subjects in task-switching experiments are given new stimuli each time, so only the operation remains the same, not the problem.

Difference between multitasking and task-switching

•	Perform one task at the same time.

•	Tasking-switching usually comes with changing costs.

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

•	Several contingent tasks are performed at the same time.

•	Employees constantly switch between multiple demanding and ongoing tasks in a modern work environment, impacting productivity.

Multitasking in the workplace

Buser, T., & Peter, N. (2012). Multitasking. Experimental Economics : A Journal of the Economic Science Association, 15(4), 641-655.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-012-9318-8

Multitasking

Task-switching

Being able to reallocate time between tasks by working on multiple things simultaneously.

A potential benefit of multitasking

•	In comparison to sequential execution, multitasking significantly lowers performance. As a result, switching with its associated costs, including recalling the actions, rules and details performed so far, outweighs the benefits of receiving a fresh perspective.

•	There was only a marginal improvement in performance for subjects who were free to choose when and how to switch, and they performed significantly worse than those who were forced to change at unpredictable points in time. This study adds a new dimension to the debate over centralizing decision-making by showing subjects perform worse under self-selected work schedules.

•	There is no gender difference in productivity when multitasking.


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