Model of Switch Costs and Interference During Task Switching in a Mid-Atlantic Engineering Site

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of future task assignments on current task execution in a Mid-Atlantic engineering site. To describe this relationship, a model of interference was developed that incorporates relationship conflict, task conflict, task uncertainty, and preparation time. The effect of the interference manifests itself in switch costs as related to execution time and quality of the current task. A focus group was conducted to assist in building the model and the instrument to measure the degree of interference and switching costs. A survey provided quantitative evidence to test hypotheses. It was found that employee perceived task and relationship conflict relating to a future task is significantly related to switching costs during task switching. Further, task uncertainty (routine or non-routine), and preparation time play a key role in determining switch costs. The proposed model was tested with multiple regression and supplemented with relative importance analysis. The results of this study provide a basis for improved management techniques for task prioritization and assignment. In particular, management should focus on how to best utilize preparation time, which is the time between notification of task assignment and the time the assignment actually starts.