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For a developer, I think multitasking between two tasks (a higher priority task and a lower priority task that can be worked on while the higher priority task i
by not2b 6y ago
For a developer, I think multitasking between two tasks (a higher priority task and a lower priority task that can be worked on while the higher priority task is blocked or waiting or otherwise stuck) is manageable and can work well. Beyond two the task switching cost gets too high in a hurry. It's also not good if management/customers are insisting that both tasks are very high priority, it's too stressful to juggle them then.
- Quekid5 6y agoI'm not sure that's multitasking per se. That's just prioritizing or triage. You're still working on a single thing at a time.
- not2b 6y agoBut that's exactly what a multitasking OS does. When the current task is waiting on I/O, it switches to the other task. It executes one at a time (at least, once per core).
- lanstin 6y agoThere's finishing one thing and letting the context go, and then asking "what is the next most urgent task" and then doing that task with single-pointed attention. There is also trying to mull over some software problem while a conference call where people are planning something that matters to you and you keep one ear out for if you are called out or a special topic to you is called out. The first is not harmful but the second certainly feels bad. There's also getting into the next most urgent task and getting deep into it and being free to just ignore all notifications for however long vs. people expecting to ping you on slack and get a real time answer or invite you to a call with 10 minutes notice and expecting you to be there. Again, the second is stressful and injurious to good quality work.
- maxerickson 6y agoNo one really multitasks, it's all task switching.
- youmaylike 6y agoAgreed. It’s multitasking when you switch between tasks before reaching a natural stopping point.
- lozaning 6y agoTwo things having very high priority means really, neither are. I've reminded many a manager of this in the past.
- ddingus 6y agoExactly, the questions are always: Which is it? What is worth what?
- kqr 6y agoI got so angry when a high-ranking police official was asked whether they'd start putting higher priority to a specific type of crime after some relate embarrassment on their part, and they answered, "Of course, we continue to prioritise every crime." ...that just means you don't prioritise any crime.
- afarrell 6y agoYes, the Huberman Lab podcast talks about this: humans can bifocal-task if one of the tasks can be in the background.