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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

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  • Sophie Leroy

    (School of Business, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, Washington 98011)

  • Theresa M. Glomb

    (Department of Work and Organizations, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Leroy & Theresa M. Glomb, 2018. "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," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 380-397, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:29:y:2018:i:3:p:380-397
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2017.1184
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Editors The, 2008. "From the Editors," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 1-1, July.
    2. Leroy, Sophie, 2009. "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 109(2), pages 168-181, July.
    3. Editors The, 2008. "From the Editors," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 2(2), pages 1-3, January.
    4. Miner, Andrew G. & Glomb, Theresa M., 2010. "State mood, task performance, and behavior at work: A within-persons approach," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 43-57, May.
    5. Leroy, Sophie & Schmidt, Aaron M., 2016. "The effect of regulatory focus on attention residue and performance during interruptions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 218-235.
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    Cited by:

    1. Barbara Barbieri & Marina Mondo & Silvia De Simone & Roberta Pinna & Maura Galletta & Jessica Pileri & Diego Bellini, 2024. "Enhancing Productivity at Home: The Role of Smart Work and Organizational Support in the Public Sector," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Sebastian Seibel & Judith Volmer, 2021. "A Diary Study on Anticipated Leisure Time, Morning Recovery, and Employees’ Work Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Luqman, Adeel & Talwar, Shalini & Masood, Ayesha & Dhir, Amandeep, 2021. "Does enterprise social media use promote employee creativity and well-being?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 40-54.
    4. Decker, Sandra, 2021. "Pathways from Role Identification Level to Attention Residue in Multiple Team Membership," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 6(4), pages 826-838.

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