What is a task interdependence?

Answer 1

Task interdependence is the extent to which activities are dependent on each other. That is the degree to which activities are related. There are three categories of task interdependence (in reverse hierarchical order):

1. Sequential interdependence: when one task is completed then handed off for the next stage; this type of relationship often requires dense information flows at points of transfer (between one activity to the next)

• Assembly line is an example of this, once the parts are made, it goes to the next activity where they are put together, and then to the next activity where the car is painted. Thus, there is little dependency between each stage. (Clearly I'm not a car person!)

2. Pooled interdependence: when inter-dependent task are undertaken simultaneously and the final result of each activity is put together (or 'pooled'); such dependency is the easiest of the three to manage because each group could work on the activity independently and then come together for the final stage where all items are put together

• An example of this is a group of students who want to raise money for a charity foundation, each student/group of would work to get donations of their own independently and then the contributions they get at the end of the process is pooled and donated

3. Reciprocal interdependence: when task are conducted with repeated interaction among each other; this type of activity requires sustained interaction between individuals for the task to be completed and is the most difficult to manage

• An example of this is a marketing department in a company, they have to continually communicate the current trends to the company to keep them well informed of the market that is what is demanded and what should be created, but the operations of the company has to continually communicate with the marketing department to inform them of what products should be marketed to which target group, and the such.