Managing Interruption in the Accounting Workplace

James H. Long, PhD, CIA, CMA, CPA, and Jonathan D. Stanley, PhD, CPA

Consider the following scenario: Natalie arrives at her office by 6:30 a.m. every morning, hoping to have a period of uninterrupted time during which she can focus on critical projects before the workday really begins. By 8:30 a.m., she is in the middle of another hectic day, frequently interrupting projects that she is working on to respond to urgent e-mails, answer or return critical phone calls, or interact face-to-face with her clients and colleagues. Natalie is confident in her ability to juggle her responsibilities, but by the end of the day, she rarely feels as if she has been able to complete the tasks she set out to accomplish at the beginning of it. The next day, the whole chaotic process begins again.