Title: Chinese managers' time management disposition in first-tier cities in China

Authors: Amy Wong; Thomas Waldner

Addresses: School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 436 Clementi Road, 599494, Singapore ' MCI Management Center Innsbruck, Universitaetsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract: People from different countries often deal with time in a dissimilar manner. Wrong interpretations of time or a difference in the perception of time can lead to misunderstandings at the workplace, which are often caused by cultural differences. This study examined Chinese managers' perceptions of time management in first-tier cities in China. To collect data, 14 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted to understand how Chinese managers perceive the concept of time management. The findings showed that Chinese managers are involved in active time management. The main factors that influenced their time management dispositions are perceptions of work, time pressure, work planning, workplace challenges, and time management efficiency. Besides, the corporate, social-cultural, and geographic environment impacted their time management behaviour. The findings provide important insights for Chinese managers about their perceptions of time and their awareness of time management. Further discussion and implications are provided.

Keywords: time management; time pressure; Chinese managers; qualitative interviews; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2021.113638

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2021 Vol.20 No.1, pp.17 - 33

Received: 30 Jan 2020
Accepted: 05 Jul 2020
Published online: 15 Mar 2021 *

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