article

Tasks Interrupted: How Anticipating Time Pressure on Resumption of an Interrupted Task Causes Attention Residue and Low Performance on Interrupting Tasks and How a "Ready-to-Resume" Plan Mitigates the Effects

Authors:

Theresa M. GlombAuthors Info & Claims

Organization Science, Volume 29, Issue 3

Pages 380 - 397

https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2017.1184

Published: 01 June 2018 Publication History

Abstract

This paper explores the attention regulation challenges brought by interruptions. In contrast to much of the research on interruptions that looks at the effects on the interrupted task, this paper examines the difficulty of focusing attention and performing well on interrupting tasks. Integrating research on attention residue, time pressure, and implementation intention, we predict that when people anticipate resuming their interrupted work under time pressure, they will find it difficult to switch their attention to the interrupting task, leading to attention residue and low performance. A ready-to-resume intervention, in which one briefly reflects on and plans one's return to the interrupted task, mitigates this effect such that attention residue is reduced and performance on the interrupting task does not suffer. Data collected across four studies support these hypotheses.

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Cited By

Schweisfurth TGreul A(2024)Unexpected Interruptions, Idle Time, and CreativityOrganization Science10.1287/orsc.2023.166035:1(116-137)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.2023.1660
Gonsalves L(2023)Work (Un)InterruptedOrganization Science10.1287/orsc.2022.164934:5(1651-1671)Online publication date: 11-Jan-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.2022.1649
Chiossi FHaliburton LOu CButz ASchmidt A(2023)Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective MemoryProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3580778(1-15)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
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Index Terms

Tasks Interrupted: How Anticipating Time Pressure on Resumption of an Interrupted Task Causes Attention Residue and Low Performance on Interrupting Tasks and How a "Ready-to-Resume" Plan Mitigates the Effects
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)

Index terms have been assigned to the content through auto-classification.

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cover image Organization Science

Organization Science Volume 29, Issue 3

June 2018

190 pages

ISSN:1526-5455

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INFORMS

Linthicum, MD, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 June 2018

Accepted: 16 September 2017

Received: 08 December 2015

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Cited By

Schweisfurth TGreul A(2024)Unexpected Interruptions, Idle Time, and CreativityOrganization Science10.1287/orsc.2023.166035:1(116-137)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.2023.1660
Gonsalves L(2023)Work (Un)InterruptedOrganization Science10.1287/orsc.2022.164934:5(1651-1671)Online publication date: 11-Jan-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.2022.1649
Chiossi FHaliburton LOu CButz ASchmidt A(2023)Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective MemoryProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3580778(1-15)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3580778
Slifkin ENeider M(2023)Phishing interruptedInternational Journal of Human-Computer Studies10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103017174:COnline publication date: 1-Jun-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103017
Stangl FRiedl R(2023)Interruptions in the Workplace: An Exploratory Study Among Digital Business ProfessionalsHCI in Business, Government and Organizations10.1007/978-3-031-36049-7_29(400-422)Online publication date: 23-Jul-2023
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Pendem PGreen PStaats B(2022)The Microstructure of WorkManufacturing & Service Operations Management10.1287/msom.2021.105324:4(2202-2220)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2022
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