A worker is assigned three tasks, A, B, and C, each having a duration of 10 days. One approach to completing these tasks would be to focus on one at a time, complete it, and then move to the second, followed by the third. One multitasking approach would call for dividing each task in half and rotating from one to the other so that the first halves of A, B, and C are completed before the second halves of A, B, and C are completed (always in this order). What is the difference in the average completion times for the multitasked activities when compared to the one at a time approach

There is no difference in the average completion times for the multitasked activities when compared to the one at a time approach

Explanation:

Let's consider the first approach, which involves focusing on one task at a time, complete it, and then move to the second, followed by the third. It will the worker 10 days to complete task A, another 10 days for task B and thereafter 10 days for C. So total number of days required to complete all three tasks using first approach is 10 days + 10 days + 10 days = 30 days

Let's consider the second approach which is the multitasking approach. The first task, one half of A takes 10 days/2 = 5 days, 5 days is spent next on Task B and then another 5 days on Task C. Therefore, during first 15 days one half of each task (A, B, and C) is completed. The next 15 days, following the same order of work  the remaining half of each task is completed.

Total number of days to complete each tasks = Duration of completion of first half of each task +  Duration of completion of the remaining second half of each task

Total number of days to complete each tasks = 15 days + 15 days = 30 days.

Therefore, the first approach and multitasking approach require the same number of days to complete each task. Therefore, there is no difference in the average completion times for the multitasked activities when compared to the one at a time approach

answer; niosh, the national institute for occupational safety and health;