THE MULTITASKING CHALLENGE
To Multi-task or Not to Multi-task?
In 90s and early 2000s, with the rise of PDA’s and other personal productivity devices, we embraced multitasking as a way to keep pace with the new speed of business. We highlighted our ability to multi-task on resumes, and bragged about how many assignments we were able to complete at once. Multitaskers were seen as efficient, high-performing employees.
Now we know the truth: extensive research has shown that multitasking has a major downside. It slows us down, we make more mistakes, and it wears us out both mentally and physically. And yet we keep on multitasking? Why?
Could it be because we underestimate the true cost of multitasking?
What is the Multitasking Challenge?
It is an interactive and fun simulation game that allows users of all ages to fully experience and directly compare, the difference in speed, quality and stress levels when multitasking vs. single tasking.
The Game is simple. You have to complete 3 projects as quickly and reliably, and with as few mistakes, as possible.
In round 1 you complete the tasks by multitasking - switching to another project after every task to ensure you can show equal progress on all 3 projects. In round 2, you complete the tasks by single tasking - only switching to another project when you completed the project you are busy with.
The insights you will gain by playing the Multitasking Challenge include:
1
Why it’s almost impossible to make reliable commitments when you (or others on your team) multitask.
One of the biggest challenges we face at work, and in our personal life, is when we are asked to make a commitment on how long it will take to complete a series of tasks. That is because we cannot accurately predict how long tasks will take to complete. With the Multitasking Challenge, users can experience first hand, why, even if we are doing simple tasks that are easy to accurately estimate their duration, it is almost impossible to make reliable commitments when we multitask.
2
What the real reasons are why multitasking negatively impact, not just our productivity, but also our stress levels.
We multitask, and are often expected to multitask by our boss or customers, because both we and they assume it makes us more productive. But is that really true? Do multitasking really make us more productive? And when we start work sooner, does it always mean we will finish it sooner when we are also working on other things. With the Multitasking Challenge, users can experience first hand, how multitasking impacts not just the speed to complete tasks, but also the quality of our work and the amount of work we can get done in a time period.
3
How much more we could get done, and how much less time it would take, if we were willing to single task.
We will continue to multitask as long as we or others assume it is the best way to complete as much work as possible in the shortest period of time. Today, unlike a few decades ago, most people have seen the research and probably has had a personal experience in how much more productive we become if we can resist the temptation to multitask. But most people are unaware of just how much more they could get done by single-tasking. With the Multitasking Challenge, users can experience first hand, how a small change in the way we do the work (multitasking vs single tasking) can have on HUGE impact on the speed, quality and level of stress we experience.
What You Can Achieve With The Multitasking Challenge
Who Needs The Multitasking Challenge?
Students & Professors
Whether you are teaching or learning, the Multitasking Challenge is an interactive learning experience that will teach you about one of the most common mistakes in project management - spreading resources too thin.
Knowledge Workers
Discover how much more productive you can be when you do single tasking instead of multitasking. Increase your value by gaining a deep understanding of the effect of multitasking on you, your team and the organization as a whole.
Theory of Constraints or Agile Consultants
Use the multitasking game to get buy-in from your clients to implement Critical Chain or Agile in their environment.
Get Your Copy of the Multitasking Challenge Now!
If after 30 days, you did not gain any insights from the Multitasking Challenge, we will provide you with a Full Money-back refund!
You must have downloaded and used the multitasking simulation to be eligible for a refund
Goldratt Research Labs @ 2021 - Multitasking Challenge