Multi-project Work and Project Performance: Friends or Foes?

How many projects can youwork on simultaneously? We study this question in thecontext of new product development (NPD) projects ina multinational organization. We suggest that multi-project work (MPW) might be a double-edged sword.On the one hand, MPW academics or engineers can bemore productive by filling the gaps in their schedulesand developing time management practices. On the other hand, MPW also carries switching costs. Thistrade-off creates an inverted U-shaped relationshipbetween MPW and project performance. So, how canMPW be more beneficial or less costly? We find thatmore specialized employees can benefit more from pro-ductivity gains while working with familiar membersor similar projects can alleviate switching costs.