CASE STUDY IV

Time-Management Decision Making

Objective: to improve your time-management skills through the use of the normative
decision process.

Probably the most important resources that we have are our time. Students and
managers always seem to have tremendous demands on their time. They need to
monitor its use closely and allocate it carefully. Unfortunately, few of us make
efficient and effective use of our time naturally. We need to develop time management
skills and employ techniques that contribute to this end.

As student, the poor management of your time may inhibit learning, interferes
with academic performance, and limit extracurricular activities. Due to a lack of time-
management skills, may intelligent students struggle to achieve moderate success or
simply to meet graduation and endurance, qualities that overcome their inefficient use
of time. Many managers face the same difficulties with regard to their work. Now is a
good time to begin the development of your time-management skills.

This exercise is designed to give you an opportunity to analyze and to improve

your own time-management skills through the use of the normative decision process
discussed in the lecture. To help you analyze these skills and make decisions regarding
common time wasters and recommendations to correct them.

Time-Management Decision-Making Worksheet

Step 1: Classify and define the problem

Do you believe that your time-management problem is a programmed problem (routine

problem for which you have worked our a solution) or a non programmed problem (new
or unique problem that requires a new solution)? Why?

Inefficient use of time can result from many causes. Develop a list of the time wasters
(external and internal) that you believe interferes with your effective use of time.

External Time Wasters:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Internal Time Waster
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Do these time wasters happen more often at a particular time?

External Time Waster

Internal Time Waster

When are these time wasters less evident?

External Time Waster
Internal Time Waster

Do these time wasters arise more in a particular place?

External Time Waster
Internal Time Waster

Where are these time wasters less evident?

External Time Waster
Internal Time Waster

How many changes taken place in your life that may have led to these time wasters
External Time Waster
Internal Time Waster

If you decided to change any of the time wasters listed above, would the decision
require acceptance by a group or other individuals (roommates, family, peer, and
employer).
External Time Waster
Internal Time Waster

Overall, what do you believe is the most important underlying cause of these time
wasters that interferes with yours effective and efficient use of time? Why?
Step 2: Develop Criteria for successful solution
As mentioned, specific goals should help you to use your time more efficiently.
To this end, list your top priority objectives, the objectives that you believe must be
satisfied by a new approach to use of your time. Example of these Must Objectives
include: better grades, improved relations with your family, physical fitness, improve
job performance, acceptability of new approach in roommate, friends or family and
proficiency at some extra- curricular activity, sport, or hobby. Try to make your Must
Objectives as specific as possible.
Must Objective 1:
Must Objective 2:
Must Objective 3:
Must Objective 4:
Must Objective 5:
Other must Objectives:

In addition, list your objectives that are desirable, but not necessary, for an
acceptable decision. Examples of this Want Objective include: more travel, reading for
pleasure, improved golf score, more rest, and improved relations with friends. Once
again, try to be specific.
Want Objective 1:
Want Objective 2:
Want Objective 3:
Want Objective 4:
Want Objective 5:
Other Want Objective:

Step 3: Generate Alternative

List any alternatives that you believe may help to improve the used of your time.
Attempt to employ all possible sources on time management for ideas concerning these
alternatives. These include articles and books on time management, friends who
consciously try to manage their time efficiently, and specialists. Try to be creative, but
develop a list of alternatives that is relevant to the time wasters that you listed above,
particularly the major cause or problem that you identified. Do not evaluate at this
time! Examples of alternative include: developed a daily plan, live alone, limit social
activities on weeknights, go to the library every night, sell your TV, say not extra job
requests, and take fewer credit hours per semester.
Alternative 1:
Alternative 2:
Alternative 3:
Alternative 4:
Alternative 5:
Alternative 6:
Alternative 7:
Alternative 8:
Alternative 9:
Alternative 10:
Other Alternative:

Step 4: Compare Alternative to Objectives

Go back to your list of MUST OBJECTIVES AND ALTERNATIVES. Using the
table below, determine whether the alternative satisfy all your MUST OBJECTVES. If
none of the alternatives satisfy all your MUST OBJECTIVES, try to develop more
alternatives

Must ALTERNATIVES
Objectives
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10
1
2
3
4
5

Go back to your list of WANT OBJECTIVES and attach an importance score,

ranging from 1 (least important) to 10 (most important), to each WANT OBJECTIVE.
Then, for each remaining objectives, assign a weight for how well that alternative
meets the WANT OBJECTIVE. These weights also should be on a 1 (does not meet the
WANT OBJECTIVE) to 10 (meets the WANTS OBJECTIVE VERY WELL) scale. Finally,
calculate the total weighted score of each alternative by multiplying the importance
score and the weights, and then summing these products for each alternative. For
example of this process, refer to your textbook.

Want Importance Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3

Objectives Score
Weight Score Weight Score Weight Score
1
2
3
4
5

Total Weighted Score:

Steps 5: Choose an Alternatives

Based on the analysis in step 4. one or a combination of alternatives may satisfy
the objectives that you identified in step 2. one alternative may emerge as clearly
superior to the other, or you may find that several of the alternatives attain high total
weighted scores and are mutually compatible. If this is not the case, then you probably
need to conduct additional analysis. Many times you will still need to rely on your
judgment to make the final decision. List below the alternatives that you have selected
and the reason that you decided on each one.

Step 6: Implement the Decision

Now that you have decided how to approach your time management problem, you
must implement your alternatives. Develop a schedule of events to carry out your
decision and work out the issues that affect other. Try to stick with your decision from
the beginning and watch for potential conflict that may arise early in the process. List
in the space below the critical events in the implementation of your decision and a
timetable for their execution.

Step 7: Monitor decision and obtain feedback

Once the decision is implemented, you must develop some techniques to monitor
its effectiveness. Set some standards that are related to your objectives. These
standards can be checked on a periodic basis to determine your progress. List the
standards below and a timetable for their evaluation. Remember to correct problems as
quickly as possible after they arise.