Determinants of Task Procrastination: Public vs Private Sector Comparison

Abstract

To find out the determinants of task procrastination in public and private sector organisations, 600 skilled workers (300from public sector and 300 from private sector organisations) were interviewed with the help of structured interview schedule. The findings show that of the seventeen variables used as potential predictors of task procrastination, only six, i.e., humane and fair management style, task ambiguity, deadline pressure, frustration tolerance, autonomy, and type ‘A’ behaviour pattern/personality in private sector and only five variables, i.e., humane and fair management style, deadline pressure, job satisfaction, frustration tolerance, and locus of control in public sector organisations emerged as critical determinants of task procrastination behaviour.