Abstract: A multitasking data processing system is provided with a hardware-configured operating system kernel. The system includes a processor queue that includes a plurality of word stores, each word store storing a task name, in execution priority order, that is ready for processing. An event queue in the kernel includes a plurality of word stores for storing task names that await the occurrence of an event to be placed in the processor queue. When an associated processor signals the occurrence of an event, matching logic searches all word stores in the event queue, in parallel, to find a task associated with the signalled event and then transfers the task to the processor queue. Shift logic is also provided for simultaneously transferring a plurality of task names, in parallel, in the processor queue to make room for a task name transferred from the event queue.