Deviating from an organization’s prescribed task schedule tends to erode productivity, even among the most experienced workers, according to new research from María R. Ibáñez, Jonathan R. Clark, Robert S. Huckman, and Bradley R. Staats.
Many jobs involve completing a series of sequential, independent, prearranged tasks. Physicians see patients; teachers grade papers; insurance agents process stacks of claims.
In the interest of productivity, some organizations have a predetermined scheduling policy, requiring that tasks be completed in a particular order. But in many instances, workers have more freedom over their workday: They can follow the prescribed schedule or else choose to deviate, completing tasks in a different order at their own discretion.
It’s easier than ever for managers to grant that freedom, thanks to technological advances like internet connectivity, mobile devices, and software. Autonomy is a much-touted benefit at many organizations, and it’s nice to believe that we each know the best path to our own optimal productivity. But new research shows that deviating from an organization’s recommended schedule tends to erode productivity, even among the most experienced workers.
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