The Wisdom Of Multitasking - Human Resources Practices

Multitasking mania may create more problems of efficiency than increasing productivity.

You may dismiss multitasking as modern day madness, but it's the done thing now. The present trend is to maximise productivity with minimum employees, and multitasking seems to do just that. Though it may have captured the attention of employers, it hasn't won over employees.

What is multitasking?

Doing two or more tasks at the same time is what it's all about. While it stretches employees, it also helps them in becoming more efficient and skilled. However, employees oppose it because it does not provide any career advancement opportunities, nor does it enhance their performance. Their arguments seem reasonable.

Why multitasking?

Managements favour multitasking because it increases the output, with fewer employees. Another reason is that, employees who multitask save time and use the time saved for other productive purposes. What's more, the efficiency level of employees also moves up since they gain skills in new areas.

The rapid growth and changes in the business environment has led to its popularity. Today, business is done at microchip speed. Therefore, every service or information is also expected to match that speed. And this is possible with multitasking.

Why not multitasking?

Contrary to top management's assertions, studies reveal that multitasking has not been of much help either to employees or to companies. It diminishes the productivity and efficiency of employees, while stressing out employees because they are overworked.

Some facts about the effects of multitasking:

• According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology multitasking makes people inefficient.
• A report published in Neurolmage reveals that when multitasking, brainpower is reduced because the mental abilities of employees are divided between several tasks.

Multitaskers also tend to have short memory lapses and high levels of stress. These lapses may some times be fatal if not taken care of immediately. Ted Braddock, a multitasker and the chief corporate learning officer of Newton, Conn., encountered such a problem when he was in a conversation with a group of people. He had a short memory lapse in the middle of the conversation.

Trade unions arguments against multitasking

Trade unions have been rightly voicing apprehensions about multitasking. They argue that it's not beneficial where the pay package is not based on performance. Employees when multi-tasking, bear a greater workload without getting additional benefits or promotions.

In service industries, the quality of the services also takes a backseat because of multitasking. Overwork minimises productivity and the resultant stress affects health. Especially in the hospitality industry multitasking is of little value. The industry has certain job functions that can be performed well only with years of experience. Otherwise the quality of service and the speed at which it is done suffers.

Trade unions feel that multitasking or multiskilling doesn't improve the working standards of employees. On the contrary, they feel that merging two or three jobs only adds to employees' already strained work schedule.

Options

The arguments put forward by trade unions seem to be reasonable. So, besides multitasking, what can companies do to improve productivity? The answer is very simple. Employees should be:

• Able to prioritise the assigned tasks
• Encouraged to concentrate on one task and complete it
• Trained to handle each task immediately without delaying it
• Able to focus on the task at hand so that its completion enhances job satisfaction
• Allowed free time

If multitasking, how?

People can multitask successfully without showing signs of stress or overwork. But this is because they know how to multitask. People like Stephen Carter, Anne Altman, and Candace Peterson to name a few.

Stephen Carter, the CEO of Cingular Wireless is a wireless gizmo freak. According to him, any task that can be completed by phone or e-mail should be done that way to save time. He handles around 200 e-mail messages everyday during his spare time. This he does by replying to e-mails between meetings.

For Candace Peterson, VP, corporate marketing and strategy, InFocus Corp., the telephone is a tool to reduce her workload. In the case of Anne Altman, managing director of IBM, instant messaging is her secret. She furnishes instant information to her customers through this service.

Despite its drawbacks, multitasking is here to stay. Like it or not, employers are still looking for employees who can multitask without affecting their efficiency levels.