Harmonic temporality: An investigation of the dimensionality of polychronicity and its implications for individuals and organizations

This study developed and tested a model of individual time use, harmonic temporality, based on three independent dimensions that emerge from a review of the literature on polychronicity. The first dimension is time use preference or polyphasia which refers to an individual\u27s preferred mode of activity engagement. Individuals prefer engaging in one activity at a time (i.e., monophasic), or in many activities at once (i.e., polyphasic). The second dimension is context which refers to an individual\u27s communication style and how they gather information and interpret meaning from messages. Individuals can derive meaning from the context surrounding a message (i.e., high context), or from the content of the message (i.e., low context). The third dimension is time tangibility which refers to how an individual perceives time. Time can be conceptualized as clock-based and as a tangible resource, or as possessing an intangible quality and as a result not subject an individual\u27s control and management. The model of harmonic temporality integrates these dimensions and is consistent with the literature that has investigated polychronicity as well as incorporating related temporal concepts (e.g., time urgency from Type A behavior pattern research). Eight possible configurations are discussed with an emphasis on their harmonious or discordant attributes. Using a sample of managers across numerous organizations and cultures this study found support for the hypothesized independence of these three dimensions and for the existence of all eight harmonic temporality types. Implications are discussed