A worker is assigned three tasks,A,B,and C,each having a duration of 20 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 into fifths and rotating from one to the other so that the first fifths of A,B,and C are completed before the second fifths of A,B,and C are completed (always in this order)and so on until the activities are finished.What is the difference in the average completion times for the multitasked activities?
A)There is no difference in completion times for the two approaches.
B)The multitasked activities take 15% longer.
C)The multitasked activities take 25% longer.
D)The multitasked activities take 40% longer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the worker completes one task at a time, the time required to complete all three tasks is 20*3=60 days.

In the multitasking approach, the worker completes one-fifth of each task before moving on to the next. Therefore, during the first 20 days, the worker completes one-fifth of A, one-fifth of B, and one-fifth of C. During the next 20 days, the worker completes the second one-fifth of A, the second one-fifth of B, and the second one-fifth of C. The worker continues in this way until all tasks are completed.

To find the total time required for the multitasking approach, we can sum the time required to complete each fifth of each task. Each fifth takes 20/5=4 days to complete. So, to complete all fifths of A, the worker requires 4*5=20 days. Similarly, it takes 20 days to complete all fifths of B and all fifths of C. Therefore, the total time required for the multitasking approach is 20+20+20=60 days, which is the same as the time required for completing one task at a time.

However, the multitasking approach can lead to decreased efficiency due to the time required to switch between tasks. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, task-switching can cause a 40% loss of efficiency. Therefore, the difference in the average completion times for the two approaches is:

(40% of 60) = 24 days

So, the multitasked activities take 40% longer than completing one task at a time.

A Worker Is Assigned Three Tasks,A,B,and C,each Having a Duration