Polychronicity
Polychronismus and Monochronismus two in 1959 by the American anthropologists and ethnologists Edward T. Hall introduced labels for opposing forms of "degrees of timing" ( English time dimensions ).
General
According to Hall's anthropological theory, this is one of four “value dimensions” ( cultural dimensions ) that are to be used for comparing cultures . But his theory is also used in work methodology , because workers can be assigned certain behavioral patterns according to which they can be divided into monochronous or polychronic types.
Timing and division
While the division of time represents a monochronous behavior, the division of time is polychronic. Hall divided the employees accordingly into monochronous and polychronic types, to which certain behavioral patterns - especially with regard to time management - can be assigned.
| Monochrony | Polychrome |
|---|---|
| A task after the other do | do many tasks at the same time ( multitasking ) |
| high concentration | high distraction |
| Appointments are taken seriously | Dates are irrelevant |
| Orientation towards plans | Plans don't matter |
| Disturbances of others are avoided | Interferences from others are accepted |
| high punctuality | low punctuality |
| Methodical work | the patient is easily lost |
Monochronous types can therefore set up and consistently maintain time management more easily than polychronic types.
literature
- Edward T. Hall : The Silent Language. Emphasis. Anchor, New York 1990, ISBN 0-385-05549-8 ( searchable in Google book search; original: 1959).
Individual evidence
- ^ Edward T. Hall, The Silent Language , 1959, p. 36