This week’s topic on Research-Driven Engineering Leadership explores how interruptions impact software engineers’ productivity and stress. Different types of interruptions, such as in-person and on-screen, can have varying effects on tasks like code writing, comprehension, and review. Surprisingly, in-person interruptions were found to have a positive impact on physiological measures, despite being perceived as more stressful by participants. The study also revealed the importance of addressing perception data when improving team productivity, as it is more likely to impact engineers’ actions. Recommendations include minimizing high-dominance interruptions and avoiding interruptions during code writing tasks. Overall, understanding the nuanced impact of interruptions is crucial for creating better work environments for software engineers.
https://rdel.substack.com/p/rdel-75-how-do-interruptions-impact