Abstract
Interruptions are a frequent occurrence in the work life of most decision makers. This paper investigated the influence of interruptions on different types of decision-making tasks and the ability of information presentation formats, an aspect of information systems design, to alleviate them. Results from the experimental study indicate that interruptions facilitate performance on simple tasks, while inhibiting performance on more complex tasks. Interruptions also influenced the relationship between information presentation format and the type of task performed: spatial presentation formats were able to mitigate tghe effects of interruptions while symbolic formats were not. The paper presents a broad conceptualization of interruptions and interprets the ramifications of the experimental findings within this conceptualization to develop a program for future research.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 771-797 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Journal | Decision Sciences |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2003 |
Keywords
- Decision Making
- Information Presentation Formats
- Interruptions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business, Management and Accounting(all)
- Strategy and Management
- Information Systems and Management
- Management of Technology and Innovation