TY - JOUR A1 - Altmann, Steffen A1 - Traxler, Christian A1 - Weinschenk, Philipp T1 - Deadlines and Memory Limitations JF - Management Science N2 - This paper presents the results of two natural field experiments at a dental clinic. Guided by a simple theoretical model, we exogenously vary deadlines and associated rewards for arranging check-up appointments. Our data show strong and systematic effects of deadlines on patients’ behavior. Imposing deadlines induces patients to act earlier and at a persistently higher frequency than without a deadline. We further document that individuals systematically respond to deadlines, even if these are not tied to explicit rewards. Several of our findings suggest that individuals’ responses to deadlines are shaped by limitations in memory and attention. Our results illustrate that deadlines can be a powerful management tool to encourage timely task completion and to increase the cost effectiveness of performance-contingent rewards. KW - Deadlines KW - memory limitations KW - limited attention KW - field experiment Y1 - 2021 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-hsog/frontdoor/index/index/docId/4166 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4227 N1 - published online as article in advance on 15.12.2021 VL - 68 IS - 9 SP - 6733 EP - 6750 ER -