Monochronic vs Polychronic

Monochronic vs Polychronic
Monochronic cultures like to do just one thing at a time. They value a certain
orderliness and sense of there being an appropriate time and place for everything.
They do not value interruptions. Polychronic cultures like to do multiple things at the
same time. A manager's office in a polychronic culture typically has an open door, a
ringing phone and a meeting all going on at the same time.

Polychronic cultures include the French and the Americans. The Germans tend to be
monochron

Monochronic People

* Do one thing at a time

* Concentrate on the job.
* Take time commitments (deadlines, schedules) seriously.
* Are low-context and need information.
* Are committed to the job.
* Adhere religiously to plans.
* Are concerned about not disturbing others; follows rules of privacy and consideration.
* Show great respect for private property; seldom borrow or lend.
* Emphasize promptness.
* Are accustomed to short-term relationships.
Polychronic People

* Do many things simultaneously

* Are highly distractible and subject to interruptions.
* Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved if possible.
* Are high-context and already have information.
* Are committed to people and human relationships.
* Change plans often and easily.
* Are more concerned with those who are closely related (family, friends, close business
associate) than with privacy.
* Borrow and lend things often and easily.
* Base promptness on the relationship.
* Have strong tendency to build lifetime relationships.
China

Because punctuality also reflects other values, such as concern for the other person and humility before someone

else's efforts. the Chinese are more or less punctual certainly. you should be. Nevertheless. in the big picture, as with

all traditional Asian cultures, time has historically stood in the background to immediate personal relationships; even

in modern-day Chinese cities, this is certainly still the case. Things will take the time they need to take, and the clock

is not the ultimate arbiter of what occurs and when. Mao Tse-tung was once asked what he thought of the French

Revolution; his answer was, "It's too soon to tell." The Chinese will move very quickly to seize an advantage if one

presents itself; they certainly want to succeed as quickly as possible, but they will not do anything that is not in their

best interest simply because of time. Unless it is on their terms, they have time to wait it out.

Daily life in China has historically been arranged according to vast, agriculturally based blocks of time, over which no

individual or government had control: seasons, days and nights. Even today, the workday in China begins fairly early

(around 7 or 8 A.M.), and ends early (around 4 or 5 P.M.). Most workers take an hour break and a mid afternoon nap

after lunch. On balance. China is a polychronic culture, as are most of the cultures of Asia; the clock is not the

ultimate reason for action.

India

India is essentially a polychronic culture in that thc clock is usually not the determinant of action; it most certainly

plays a role, particularly in the larger, more modern urban areas, and there is an acceptance of Western

organizational ideas. Nevertheless, there is forgiveness for the inevitable delays, and understanding when things

don't go as planned or scheduled; people mayor may not show up at scheduled events, meetings and projects mayor

may not happen as planned. India is forever acting Indian, but judging itself by Western standards of universal

morality, resulting ill a kind of self-consciousness that swings between superiority and inferiority.

Daily life in India has historically been arranged according to vast, agriculturally based blocks of time. over which no

individual or government had control. for example. the seasons. day and night. This tradition has been spiritually

justified by the tenets of Hinduism and Buddhism. which emphasize vast cycles of life and reincarnation. Even today,

schedules tend to he loose and flexible: the workday begll1s around 9 A.M.. and ends around 4 P.M. Most workers

take an hour break and a mid afternoon nap after lunch.