From Efficiency to Overload: Examining the Impact of ICT Multitasking on Work Performance and Executive Functions

As ICTs evolve, employees face increasing demands to multitask in fast-paced, technology-driven environments. While multitasking can temporarily enhance work performance, it often results in cognitive overload of executive functions when it exceeds the limits of optimal executive functions, such as working memory, attention regulation, and task switching. This study makes a significant contribution by validating a comprehensive framework to assess execution functions at the critical point where multitasking behavior exceeds these cognitive thresholds. Results of 382 full-time employees, the research identifies work performance as a key mediating factor in understanding how impulsive task handling contributes to both productivity gains and cognitive strain. The findings reveal that while impulsive task handling initially boosts performance, it ultimately leads to adverse outcomes, including working memory deficits, heightened attention residue, and anxiety. This study offers actionable insights for managing ICT-driven environments, providing strategies to balance multitasking, enhance productivity, and promote more sustainable work practices.