Late Submissions: Surprising Outcomes from Recent Experiments

A recent investigation underscores the inherent value of adhering to deadlines, revealing that submissions rendered past their due date are frequently perceived as inferior in quality, notwithstanding their actual caliber. Furthermore, this belatedness adversely influences the perception of the individual responsible for the work.

Notably, work submitted even marginally after the stipulated deadline incurs lower assessments, while submissions received prior to the deadline do not seem to alter perceptions of quality. The timeliness of a submission appears paramount; whether one submits three weeks or merely three hours ahead of schedule, the assessment remains unchanged, as long as the deadline is duly met.

According to Sam Maglio, a social psychologist affiliated with the University of Toronto Scarborough, “Evaluators consistently employed their knowledge regarding submission timing as a pivotal factor in their assessment of artistic entries, academic submissions, or business proposals.”

The research comprised 18 distinct experiments engaging a total of 6,982 participants. Volunteers were tasked with rating an array of projects, while cognizant of their submission timings—early, on time, or late.

The magnitude of the detrimental impact resulting from late submissions varied across experiments, yet Maglio and his co-author, behavioral marketing scientist David Fang from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, frequently noted substantial negative repercussions.

For instance, utilizing a scale from -3 to +3, identical work attained an average score of 0.53 when categorized as submitted on time, diminishing to 0.07 when labeled as a day overdue.

Moreover, advance notification regarding impending tardiness does little to ameliorate perceptions, nor does a history of punctuality seem to mitigate negative evaluations. Consequently, both the individual and their work inevitably appear more unfavorably in the eyes of evaluators.

The effects of this phenomenon transcend age and cultural boundaries. In one scenario featuring schoolchildren in East Asia tasked with appraising each other’s artistic endeavors, late submissions were consistently ranked lower, thus indicating that even in peer interactions among younger individuals, similar biases prevail.

However, the researchers identified a salient caveat: articulating a reasonable explanation for missing a deadline can somewhat mitigate the adverse effects, although implausible excuses—such as a dog consuming the homework—are unlikely to garner sympathy.

The findings highlight the crucial role of clear communication surrounding deadlines, which significantly influences an employee’s capacity to engender a favorable impression.

As Maglio eloquently states, “It is imperative for managers to convey the rigidity of deadlines.” Furthermore, employees should proactively inform their supervisors of any extenuating circumstances contributing to a missed deadline, as this is one of the few instances in which leniency may be extended.

This research has been published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.