http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/02/18/distraction-affliction-correction- extensio/
Jul 16, 2015
http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/02/18/distraction-affliction-correction-extensio/
The Interruptive Nature of Operations
Avleen Vig & Carolyn Rowland
Remotes
Impact
The Fix
Culture
Interruptions are all around us
“Interruptions averaging 2.8 s long—about the time to perform a step in the interrupted task—doubled the rate of sequence errors.”
- Michigan State University study, 2013
Interruptions Come at a Cost
$588b(at least!)
Impact to you
● Increased stress
● Missed deadlines
● Slower career progression
CC BY http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdenker/33237141
Impact to your team
● Lack of dependability● Increased workload for others● Increased technical debt
● Degraded communicationCritic
al problem
for remotes!
Interruptions and Operations
Evan, thevlue, CC BY
Why do we do this job?
Interruptions are all around us
Interruption Sensitive Environments
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishredcross/4397471329
jbgeronimi CC BY
Leonardo Rizzzi, stars6, CC BY
Interruptions are the job
“The person who says something is impossible, should not interrupt the person doing it.”
- Chinese proverb
Let’s fix it!
http://buzz.socialmarketingforprinters.com/blogs/images/109195046.jpg
Resist destructive urges
Jason Howie, jasonahowie, CC BY
Balancing Small vs Large Tasks
● Focused Batching
● CodeT days
Horia Varlan, horiavarlan, CC BY
The Confident Multitasker
Jason Weaver, indyplanets, CC BY
http://www.onlinecollege.org/Multitasking/
vm.swappiness=0
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/collaboration.jpg
2.1 hours/day(546 annually)
Rich Anderson, memestate, CC BY
● Lists
● Tickets
● GTD
Task switching
http
://xk
cd.c
om/3
03/
3 minute attention span
William Warby, wwarby, CC BY
(or maybe 25 minutes)
Duncan Hull, CC BY
40%
Improving alert design
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chronic_fatigue_syndrome.JPG
Improving alert design: Etsy 2011
● 24 hour avg:1 page/5 mins
● 8 hour avg:1 page/1.5 mins
Improving alert design: Attention
“Information is not a scarce resource.Attention is.”
- Herb A. Simon (1971)
github.com/etsy/opsweekly
Improving alert design: Etsy 2011-14
Improving alert design: Etsy 2011-14
● 24 hour avg:1 page/2 hours
● 8 hour avg:1 page/40 mins
Tool overload
Tony Hall, anotherphotograph, CC BY
Paul Downey, psd, CC BY
Removing barriers to focus
Jessica Mullen, jessicamullen, CC BY
Attention Deficit
“High” Priority Interruptions
In-person
Instant Messaging
Other notifications
Chronic interrupters
CultureImprovements Inside...
Level Up
W_Minshull, CC BY
Manage emergencies
#warroom / standing down stations
http://images.bwbx.io/cms/2012-05-16/etc_emergency21__01__630x420.jpgBarbara Abate, biaph, CC BY
Meetings
Managers vs makers
http://www.expertcomics.com/enr//wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1slippery-300x200.jpg
Calendars
How Urgent is It?
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Judith E Bell, jhandbell, CC BY
Visual indicators
● Headphones
● IRC / IM status to Do Not Disturb
● Closed door
How to take vacation
Peter tropical.pete, CC BY
Setting expectations
“Be right back!”- Avleen Vig, circa 2000
(still not back…)
Ask for
http://www.smartsheet.com/files/haymaker/Help.Support.Advice.Guidance.Assistance.jpghttp://pixabay.com/en/road-sign-help-street-sign-shield-464648/
Working RemotelyThe future is now!
Unique Challengeshttp://funny-pictures-blog.com
/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/M
EM
E-Leisure-Interruption.
jpg
Scheduling When You’re New10:00: Wake up10:30: Lounge around in pyjamas11:00: Breakfast11:30: Oprah!12:00: Lunch13:30: Write some code14:00: Play with cat14:30: Pile of laundry calls
Scheduling As A Pro
09:00: Wake up09:15: Shower09:30: Breakfast09:45: Emails10:15: Plan the day10:30: Meeting11:00: Write code
13:00: Lunch13:45: Meeting14:30: Tickets16:30: Wrap up tasks17:00: Done!
Home Office
John Lambert Pearson, orphanjones,CC BY
Cultural Shift
Logan Ingalls, plutor, CC BY
● Remote by default
● Extroverts and Introverts
● Nurture flexibility
When You Visit The Office
You are differently productive!
Pascal, pasakaru, CC BY
Where do I begin?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XguhVMDDtZ8/TrgFtH8Pi6I/AAAAAAAAAx8/dFOheYXk5JE/Sweetie187, CC BY
Questions?
@avleen @unpixie
http://xkcd.com/705/http://xkcd.com/705/