Going beyond conscientiousness to task pursuit orientation: Exploring an individual difference variable with potential implications for professional achievement and remote work

Abstract

While decades of research has shown a positive association between conscientiousness and performance, some research has also yielded nonsignificant and negative associations, especially in the context of remote work. Given the relatively modest effect sizes and with more of the workforce working remotely, it is important to fully understand the individual factors that contribute to successful performance in both traditional and remote work settings. This paper explores Task Pursuit Orientation as a variable contributing to successful work performance, especially in remote work. Data from a questionnaire survey of 200 working adults was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. A separate sample of 157 undergraduate students was used to confirm reliability and validity of the Task Pursuit Orientation measure. Results indicate that, compared to conscientiousness, Task Pursuit Orientation is a better predictor of professional achievement indicators such as educational level and job level. In addition, Task Pursuit Orientation had an indirect effect on income level. Convergent and discriminant validity analysis demonstrated that Task Pursuit Orientation is positively correlated with conscientiousness and action orientation, but empirically distinct. Further, working women had higher Task Pursuit Orientation than working men. Thus, Task Pursuit Orientation could be an important explanatory variable when studying individual differences in job performance, professional success, and the effectiveness of remote work.