Better late than early? Reviewing procrastination in organizations

Purpose: Procrastination is regularly presented as a behavior to avoid, but this paper argues that individuals who strategically engage in procrastination may experience unique performance benefits that non-procrastinators do not. The purpose of this paper is to present a balanced framework from which procrastination, beginning with a review of the procrastination performance literature and historical stance on the behavior, can be understood. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents and reviews the use of procrastination in organizations. Findings: Our findings indicate that while procrastination can be dysfunctional, it can prove to be strategically valuable. To summarize, this paper recommends a holistic conceptualization of procrastination that refrains from value judgment and calls for rethinking the stigma associated with the behavior. Originality/value: This paper highlights both the theoretical and practical importance of exploring the benefits of procrastination in an organizational context.