1. A method comprises: sending, by a client module, an access request to a set of dispersed storage and task (DST) units, wherein the access request includes a first identity of a set of encoded data slices and a set of partial tasks, wherein a common task is divided into the set of partial tasks; receiving, by each of at least some of the DST units, a second identity of a unique encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices and a unique partial task of the set of partial tasks; individually determining, by the each of at least some of the DST units, an estimated processing load associated with the second identity of the unique encoded data slice and the unique partial task; individually selecting, by the each of at least some of the DST units, a processing resource based on the individual estimated processing load; collectively determining, by the at least some of the DST units, a coordinated execution schedule based on the individual estimated processing loads; executing, by the selected processing resource of each of at least some of the DST units, the unique partial task on the unique encoded data slice to produce a partial result; and sending, by the at least some of the DST units, the partial results to the client module.