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Procrastination in the Workplace RUNNING HEAD: PROCRASTINATION

Tarria Whitley

PAUS 8431- Leadership and Organizational Behavior

April 26, 2009

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Abstract:

Van Eerde (2000) defines procrastination as “the avoidance of the implementation of an

intention” that is “characterized by the avoidance of the intention and the preference for

behavior or thoughts that distract from the aversiveness of the intention” (p. 372). This paper

will review literature concerning procrastination in the workplace. Possible influences, effects,

and solutions will be discussed.

Introduction

In both the public and private sectors, agencies work hard to make sure that the

organization’s resources are used to the fullest extent possible. In a world plagued with budget

cuts and downsizing, efficiency is a crucial buzzword keeping financially-strained organizations

afloat. Along with paper, pens, and paper clips, resources of human time and energy as also

extremely important; however, workers are not always motivated to devote every hour spent in

the workplace to the maintenance and advancement of the company.

Van Eerde (2000) defines procrastination as “the avoidance of the implementation of an

intention” that is “characterized by the avoidance of the intention and the preference for behavior

or thoughts that distract from the aversiveness of the intention” (p. 372). Procrastination,

according to Akerlof (1991), “occurs when present costs are unduly salient in comparison to

future costs, leading individuals to postpone tasks until tomorrow without foreseeing that when

tomorrow comes, the required action will be delayed yet again” (p. 2). Schwartz (1993) states

that, although the disadvantages of procrastination in the workplace are well known, people

continue to, on occasion, purposely waste time. Akerlof (1991) points out that procrastination in

the workplace, “results both in delay in initiating projects that should be begun as well as in

delay in terminating projects that should be ended” (p. 7). This paper will review literature

concerning procrastination, its causes, its effects, and ways to combat it.

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Van Eerde (2003)

The article “Procrastination at Work and Time Management Training” highlights a study

by Van Eerde (2003) on the effects of time management training on procrastination in work

settings. According to Van Eerde (2003), “the inability to control one’s attention and thus

overcome the more pleasant distraction is the core of procrastination” and that “the preference

for immediate positive outcomes becomes dominant, and this may serve the purpose of feeling

better temporarily but may lead to outcomes that are self-defeating in hindsight” (p. 422). Van

Eerde (2003) cited several studies showing how procrastinators tended to use less time

management skills, but claimed that they did not clearly show whether time management training

has an effect on frequency of procrastination.

The study involved taking a sample of participants and placing them through time management

training (Van Eerde, 2003). Prior to beginning the studies, the research hypothesized that a.)

experimental participants would report more improved time management skills than the

members of the control group, b.) experimental participants would report less worry than

members of the control group, and c.) experimental participants would report less procrastination

actions than members of the control group. The experimental group consisted of 37 Dutch

trainees that signed up for time management workshops at a commercial training company. The

participants were split up into groups of 8-11. The 14 members of the control group were

individuals who were waitlisted for the training program at the time of the study; these

individuals had the opportunity to go through the program 2 months after the study (Van Eerde,

2003).

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References

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1-19.

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Berner, A.J. (1997, December). Overcoming procrastination: a practical approach. Information

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Dominguez, L.R. (1999, January). What to do when being overworked leads to procrastination?

Workforce [Electronic Version]. 78(1), E6-E8.

Hammer, C.A. & Ferrari, J.R. (2002-2003, Winter). Differential incidence of procrastination

between blue-collar and white-collar workers. Current Psychology [Electronic Version].

21(4), 333-338.

Schwartz, A.E. & Dallet, E. (1993, April). Procrastinate. The CPA Journal [Electronic Version].

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Strongman, K.T. & Burt, C. (2000). Taking breaks from work: an exploratory inquiry. The

Journal of Psychology [Electronic Version]. 134(3), 229-242.

Tice, D.M. & Baumeister, R.F. (1997, November). Longitudinal study of procrastination,

performance, stress, and health: the costs and benefits of dawdling. Psychological

Science [Electronic Version]. 8(6), 454-458.

Tykocinski, O.E. & Ruffle, B.J. (2003, April). Reasonable reasons for waiting. Journal of

Behavioral Decision Making [Electronic Version]. 16(2), 148-157.