This document summarizes key points about irrational human decision-making and how it can impact teams. It discusses how people are more prone to procrastination than standard economic models assume, and how procrastination is driven by emotions rather than being random. An exercise is presented to identify tasks people procrastinate on and the associated emotions. Research is discussed showing that groups with flexible deadlines procrastinated less than groups with one final deadline. The connection between emotional regulation and procrastination is noted. Ways an organization's processes could unintentionally reduce job satisfaction are raised. Additional resources on these topics are provided.

1. People Are
Weird
how irrationality will
mess up your team

3. We are all far less rational in
our decision making than
standard economic theory
assumes. Our irrational
behaviors are neither random
nor senseless – they are
systematic and predictable
Dan Ariely

6. Quick exercise
• List 3-5 things in your life (tasks, projects,
activities) on which you procrastinate
• Next to each, jot down the emotion or thought that
comes to mind when you think of the thing

7. Group
A:
Submit
all
3
papers
at
the
end
of
the
semester
Group
B:
Set
their
own
deadlines
for
submi5ng
papers
within
the
semester.
Group
C:
Submit
work
through
the
semester
on
evenly
spaced
deadlines
set
by
the
professor.

8. I love deadlines. I
like the whooshing
sound they make as
they fly by.
Douglas Adams

9. 20%

10. Emo=onal
regula=on
is
the
real
story
around
procras=na=on
Pychyl

14. Which of these things is not
like the others?

19. Is
your
organiza=on
uninten=onally
sucking
the
joy
out
of
work?

21. 3
states:
payment
in
cash,
in
gi8,
in
gi8
defined
by
cash
value
hBp://people.duke.edu/~dandan/Papers/PI/2markets.pdf

22. hBp://people.duke.edu/~dandan/Papers/PI/2markets.pdf

24. Wrapping up…
Procrastination
Motivation
…Connection

25. For more information
• All things Ariely - http://danariely.com/
• Procrastination
o http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/
2013/april-13/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination.html
o http://procrastination.ca
• Motivation
o Effort for Money: A Tale of Two Markets http://people.duke.edu/
~dandan/Papers/PI/2markets.pdf
o Prosocial Bonuses Increase Employee Satisfaction and Team Performance:
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.
0075509

26. Ellen Grove
@eegrove
eegrove@agilepartnership.com