Date of Award

1-1-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Nobuya Inagaki

Abstract

Because communication is an intricate part of how an organization works, and because organizations and employees alike are stressing the importance of multitasking on the job, studying the interaction of communication and multitasking is increasingly important. Studies relating to multitasking have revealed primarily negative impacts: doubling task completion time, overstimulating our brains to the point of dysfunction, generally diminishing our productivity, and extinguishing our stimuli filters and damaging our memories. Other studies show that we can use multitasking in a positive way by utilizing task trainings and practicing focused task completion. The study here completed two focus groups with 12 participants employed in a single department at an organization. The focus-group questions sought to gather data about the influence of multitasking on workplace productivity and the role multitasking plays in the employees’ daily work, primarily by addressing the relationship between multitasking and communication methods at the organization. Results of this study included the development of several new communication tools between employees and managers. Participants believed that communications from management and the organization are not keeping up with the electronic era. Participants strongly believed that the organization is enforcing multitasking as a way of life but not offering them the means to cope with or properly utilize multitasking.

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