Workplace productivity – which is better – one project or multitasking?

Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by admin in Expert speakers, Workplace productivity tips

We all run around all day doing lots of stuff – some people have methods of prioritising, some people run complex to do lists, others just muddle through.

We were wondering which is best for increasing workplace productivity - is it focusing on one project, or having multiple on the go… We realise that you don’t necessarily have a choice in the matter – but IF you could choose – which option would be best?

There’s some differing schools of thought.

Some believe focusing all of you time to get a single task done for hours or days ensures the task gets done to the best of your ability. Others would just not be able to focus for so long on one single thing, their mind wanders, and they’d be much better off focusing on something different for a while and coming back fresh.

Dads always know best don’t they? The suggestion here is that one way of keeping busy and entertained is to start three things at the same time… and switch between the one which best suits your mood. When you’ve got noone pushing you for deadlines I guess that’s OK.

These guys provide academic evidence to suggest it’s not such a good idea and that focus is a much better thing.

“When you really study precisely what people’s brains are doing at any moment, there’s less concurrent processing than you might think … The brain is more of a time-share operation – when fractions of a second matter, we’re better off not doing another task.”

Hal Pashler, a professor of psychology at the University of California at San Diego.

So what do you think – given the choice – how would you run your day – focusing on one thing until it was done… or good old fashioned multasking?!

2 Responses to “Workplace productivity – which is better – one project or multitasking?”

Vi

13. Mar, 2009

I find that it is a combination of the 2 practices that is most productive for me; however, I am going to have to define multi-tasking here as having 2 or more projects running concurrently although I may not be directly working on both things at exactly the same time. I find it is less productive for me have only one project on the go, especially when I get stuck on that project. If I have nothing else to focus my attention on I become a big time-waster. Having a very different project to turn to when those brain-dead moments occur allows for creativity and a break from my initial project. That being said, I will sit for hours working only on one project should I that project be captivating.
BERNARD CHISHALA

03. Jun, 2009

I enjoyed your article but this was because i was searching for organizations that support productivity initiatives. We are starting a productivty organization on private enterprise basis. Any idea for us to source partnerships
BERNARD
ZAMBIA

Increasing Workplace Productivity