The effects of individual time urgency on group polychronicity

Abstract

Recent work concerning the effects of time on group behavior suggests that individuals’ time‐oriented behaviors may act as a catalyst or pacing mechanism for subsequent group behaviors. Other work suggests that group polychronic behavior (the group’s performance of multiple tasks simultaneously) has significant effects on both individual and group outcomes. In this paper, we examine the relationship between individuals’ time‐oriented behavior and group‐level polychronic behavior. Based on results from a laboratory simulation involving 26 small groups, we conclude that the presence of time‐urgent group members increases group‐level monochronic (versus polychronic) behavior and has a positive effect on groups’ primary task activity.

Citation

Waller, M.J., Giambatista, R.C. and Zellmer‐Bruhn, M.E. (1999), "The effects of individual time urgency on group polychronicity", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 14 No. 3/4, pp. 244-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683949910263765