Understanding Task Types

In order to understand optimal mixtures of task types we must first define the different task types. Per Bill Daniels, in his book Breakthrough Performance, he states that all of the activities/tasks that we do can be broken down into 4 task types see Graph 1- task types:

1. Routine - repetitive tasks are those that are highly predictable and have a low delay tolerance (must be accomplished immediately).
2. Troubleshooting - problem solving tasks are those that are highly unpredictable and have a low delay tolerance (must be accomplished immediately).
3. Project - planning tasks are those where they are highly predictable and have a high delay tolerance (does not have to be accomplished immediately).
4. Negotiables - These tasks have high delay tolerance, but have low predictability. Daniels says that these tasks, when they are frequent, should be considered Troubleshooting tasks, and infrequent; they should be considered Project tasks.

Note: Graph 1 illustrates the 4 task types, each defined by the two functions of predictability and delay tolerance (the amount of time that the task can be ideally delayed before it is performed). The "negotiables" task type is redefined as a trouble-shooting or a project task depending on the frequency of the occurrence (Daniels, 1995, p. 61).

TQ is defined as the total combination of 3 tasks, routine (repetitive), troubleshooting (problem solving), and project (planning) tasks, performed collectively equaling 100% of time. There are 496 different combinations of TQ.