Indian workers link organisation to productivity, survey says

A recent survey conducted by Atlassian has indicated that 94% of Indian knowledge workers associate a high level of organisation with increased productivity.

The study, commissioned by Atlassian and executed by Wakefield Research, involved 6,000 respondents across six markets: the US, UK, Australia, India, Germany, and France, with 1,000 participants from each country. The data reveals that 82% of Indian respondents consider themselves more organised than their peers, suggesting a pervasive culture of self-assessed organisational competence in the workplace.

According to the survey findings, disorganisation among colleagues can have significant ramifications. Fifty-six per cent of Indian professionals have experienced increased workloads due to disorganised team members, potentially affecting morale and efficiency. Additional findings show that 33% of these professionals have had to repeat work because of a co-worker's lack of organisation, illustrating the tangible costs associated with inefficiency.

In India, many professionals employ a system of 'controlled chaos' to manage tasks, a method reportedly effective even if it appears chaotic. Reflecting this trend, 71% of Gen Z and 72% of Millennials reported that their seemingly disordered systems function well. This adaptive approach may be viewed as a response to the rapidly changing and sometimes unpredictable nature of the Indian work environment.

The study also highlights the balance Indian workers maintain between professional and personal obligations. It was noted that 46% of workers maintain separate to-do lists for work and home responsibilities, while 27% integrate both into a single list. This suggests varied preferences for managing tasks, with individuals choosing methods that best suit their needs.

The spillover of organisational tools from professional to personal use was evident as 83% of Indian workers employ tools introduced at work in their private lives. This trend is particularly prominent among senior leaders. Despite the availability of workplace tools, 87% of Indian employees have opted to invest in five or more task management or productivity tools, indicating a strong demand for effective organisational solutions.

Dr. Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, commented, "Our to-do lists need to evolve as much as we do. As our tasks, teams and ways of working change, so should the systems and tools we use to organise them. Organisational tools that are customisable and allow for flexibility in to-do lists not only increase personal productivity but also improve team dynamics on the job."

In response to the changing dynamics of task and time management, Atlassian has announced new features for Trello, aimed at improving personal productivity. These enhancements include an AI-powered Trello inbox that integrates inputs from various sources such as emails, Slack, and voice notes, and the Trello Planner, which combines task management with calendar planning. These new features are set to be available starting April 2025.