{
  "title": "Prioritisation: should nearly finished work come first?",
  "url": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/prioriser-faut-il-privilegier-les-dossiers-presque-termines-en",
  "language": "en",
  "datePublished": "2026-03-13",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "SHR — Swiss Human Resources",
    "url": "https://www.shr.swiss",
    "address": "Esplanade de Pont-Rouge 9A, 1212 Lancy, Suisse"
  },
  "summary": "Work that is close to completion attracts effort. Research invites us to distinguish this motivational pull from a sound reason to give it priority.",
  "section": "Research",
  "topic": "Time Management & Prioritisation",
  "place": {
    "name": "Bern",
    "region": "Berne",
    "country": "CH"
  },
  "keyPoints": [
    {
      "heading": "What the literature establishes",
      "point": "Ran Kivetz, Oleg Urminsky and Yuhuang Zheng (2006, Journal of Marketing Research) show, notably in loyalty programmes, that activity accelerates as participants approach a reward."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Perceived progress can itself mobilise effort",
      "point": "Joseph C."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The premature conclusion",
      "point": "One might conclude that nearly finished work should always be viewed with suspicion."
    },
    {
      "heading": "What these data cannot decide",
      "point": "These studies concern goal pursuit in consumer settings, not choices between competing workplace assignments."
    },
    {
      "heading": "A practical check in Berne",
      "point": "Within SHR — Swiss Human Resources' “[Time Management & Prioritisation](/formation/gestion-du-temps/berne)” programme, an exercise applicable in Berne is to review priority decisions over two weeks, whether they concern a federal administration file, a public health analysis, a telecom delivery or a precision manufacturing batch."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "authors": "Zheng",
      "year": "2006",
      "source": "Journal of Marketing Research"
    },
    {
      "authors": "Drèze",
      "year": "2006",
      "source": "Journal of Consumer Research"
    }
  ],
  "wordCount": 419,
  "image": "https://www.shr.swiss/img/blog-editorial-2026-03-13-en.jpg?v=4",
  "translations": {
    "fr": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/prioriser-faut-il-privilegier-les-dossiers-presque-termines",
    "en": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/prioriser-faut-il-privilegier-les-dossiers-presque-termines-en",
    "de": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/prioriser-faut-il-privilegier-les-dossiers-presque-termines-de",
    "it": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/prioriser-faut-il-privilegier-les-dossiers-presque-termines-it"
  },
  "relatedPages": {
    "programme": "https://www.shr.swiss/formation/gestion-du-temps/berne",
    "city": "https://www.shr.swiss/formations-ville/berne",
    "blog": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog"
  },
  "citationPolicy": "Citation autorisée avec mention « SHR — Swiss Human Resources » et lien vers l'article."
}