TIME

Time is a commodity that we can waste and spend. We work to get it on our side, and can have it pass, mark it, plan it, limit it (as in “for a limited time only”), manage it, but we can’t stop it. We have “billable hours” (diaries?) and “new” years.

 1.  Cultural differences in time

             Monochronism and Polychronism

Monochronism – doing one thing at a time (US, England). Time is tangible, valuable. Schedules are more important than people or tasks. Americans have love affair with clocks. But time is also a commodity, and this values time itself rather than satisfaction, good work, and relationships. As a result, this view of time may be stressful. Think about the “trade off” of occupational success and family and friends.

Polychronic – engage in several activities at once (Arab cultures, American Indians, Mexicans). Time is less tangible. Stresses involvement of people and completion of transactions rather than schedules. Multi-tasking.

            Punctuality (questionnaire)

Factors:

Status (early or on time for event with higher status people)

Formality (on time or early for more formal events)

Time of day (on time or early for morning or early afternoon events)

        Early bird gets the worm -- people who are alert in the morning are more successful

        Body rhythms

        Generational differences

 

2.  Internet time

            Internet time is speeded up, faster than “just time”.

                        Technological trends and advancements have a very short shelf life.

            Real time – synchronous and asynchronous messaging