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Multitasking: Do preference and ability interact to predict performance at work?
Author(s) -
Sanderson Kristin R.,
BrukLee Valentina,
Viswesvaran Chockalingam,
Gutierrez Sara,
Kantrowitz Tracy
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of occupational and organizational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0963-1798
DOI - 10.1111/joop.12025
Subject(s) - human multitasking , preference , psychology , social psychology , cognitive psychology , applied psychology , microeconomics , economics
This study examined the moderating role of polychronicity, the preference for multitasking, on the relationship between multitasking ability and performance. The results support the importance of fit in understanding the interaction between preference for and ability to multitask. The relationship between multitasking ability and an overall performance composite was stronger for individuals higher in polychronicity. For employees low in polychronicity, having the ability to multitask did not translate into meaningful performance differences. Practitioner points Overall job performance is optimal for employees with both the ability to multitask and the preference for doing so. The relationship between multitasking ability and overall job performance is negligible for monochronic employees.