Leadership on the run: time management among deputy ministers in Canada
International Journal of Public Leadership
ISSN: 2056-4929
Article publication date: 27 May 2021
Issue publication date: 25 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The authors examine the time allocation and management of deputy ministers (DMs) in Canada.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze the results from a 2020 survey of DMs.
Findings
The authors observe that, like private sector leaders, DMs work very long hours and tend to allocate their time fairly consistently across functions. Nevertheless, important differences exist particularly depending on the size of their department.
Research limitations/implications
While a substantial percentage of answers were returned, these skew toward provincial rather than federal public servants and not all jurisdictions are equally represented.
Practical implications
The distribution of areas of focus for DMs and their time allocation differences speak to potentially important discussions to be had in time management practice.
Originality/value
This is the first and only analysis of time management for senior public service executives based on a survey instrument.
Keywords
Citation
Dutil, P. and Migone, A.R. (2022), "Leadership on the run: time management among deputy ministers in Canada", International Journal of Public Leadership, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 57-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-02-2021-0005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited