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The Effect of Consideration of Future Consequences on Quality and Quantity Aspects of Job Performance 1
Author(s) -
GRASO MAJA,
PROBST TAHIRA M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00901.x
Subject(s) - psychology , quality (philosophy) , incentive , task (project management) , selection (genetic algorithm) , social psychology , work (physics) , job performance , orientation (vector space) , job design , applied psychology , job satisfaction , microeconomics , computer science , economics , management , mathematics , artificial intelligence , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , geometry , epistemology
This study extended prior research on consideration of future consequences (CFC) by exploring its influence on quality and quantity aspects of job performance. CFC is an individual‐differences variable reflecting the importance a person assigns to the immediate vs. future consequences of his or her actions. We hypothesized that individuals with a high future orientation would produce higher quality work, while low‐CFC participants would produce greater quantities. Participants took part in a data‐entry task where they were asked to enter as many words as they could (quantity) while maintaining the highest accuracy (quality) possible. Results supported the primary hypothesis. Workplace implications of the findings are discussed, particularly with respect to selection and the design of performance incentive systems.