The status of the strategic task overload model (STOM) for predicting multi-task management

A model for task switching which focuses on the decision making of operators in overloaded multitask conditions is reviewed and new research presented. The STOM model is an ongoing effort and as such, work is now accumulating, which serves to validate the model as a useful predictive method, but also is uncovering uncertainties that require further investigation. Here we summarize the origins of the model, which was informed by past modeling efforts, a literature review and a meta-analysis. We then describe in detail the basic parameters of STOM and the current status of each, before discussing future directions and six uncertainties uncovered when building our understanding of task switching choice.