Internal Interruptions at Work

This dissertation investigates internal interruptions at work, one of the main drivers of multitasking behaviour. The four empirical studies cumulated in this dissertation examine the preconditions to internal interruptions at work, the reasons behind why individuals interrupt themselves, the strategic advantage of internal interruptions, and impact of internal interruptions on performance. The main goals of this dissertation are to uncover the underlying processes of internal interruptions and observe it in real work settings. The first study meta-analytically investigates human energy at work and thereby uncovers a jangle fallacy in the phenomenon of human energy. It moreover sheds light on the possible inhibitor of internal interruptions. The second and third study highlight why people interrupt themselves using a multimethod approach and investigate the strategical use of internal interruptions as energy management strategy by using a daily diary design. The fourth study examines how internal interruptions affect creative and planning performance. Taken together, the studies observe and examine internal interruptions from multiple angles with different methodological approaches and help to disentangle the phenomenon of internal interruptions in a working context.