Abstract

Apparently, the study aims to examined the effect of time management on Organisational performance: Case Study, Buea Council. Specifically, the study examined the effect of time planning, time prioritization and time control on organisational performance, in order to achieved the study objectives, convenience sampling method was adopted to arrive at sample size of 95 covering staffs and employees of the Buea Council.

Data was collected using structure-questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (21.0). Findings revealed that Time planning plays a significant effect on organisation as there is a routine schedule list of every daily activities, there is a limit for each activity to be carried out, daily check is carried out to ensure that the work done is done within the time allocated for it.

It was also revealed that Time prioritization plays a significant effect on organisation performance as tasks of priority are broken into daily, weekly and monthly goals, tasks which are urgent are separated from those which are not important, prioritize tasks are those that highly affect organisational performance and deadlines are highly respected in the organisation.

Lastly, it was revealed that time control plays a significant effect on organisational performance as tasks are always organized daily in other of priority, there is a list of scheduled activities which has to be followed, there is also a calendar of activities for all which have to be done and breaks and works shifts are well respected. The study concluded that time management effect the organisational performance of the Buea Council. The study recommended that the municipal council should involve their employees in decision making in order to increase morale towards their job, this will increase on-time accomplishment of tasks.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Time is one of the most important assets for any organisation in the business world (Adebisi, 2013). This is virtual because time is tied to every organisational activity that feeds into its strategic objectives. As an important asset, its management is critical for organisational survival and success. As a result, time management could be considered as one of the major competitive tools that can contribute towards improved organisational performance (Ahmed et al., 2012).

Time management is necessary for any organisation to carry out its operations effectively. Improved operational efficiency through time management contributes to organisational success. Studies have empirically demonstrated the relationship between time management practices and organisational performance (Miqdadi et al., 2014; Njagi and Malel, 2012).

Time management does not mean to do most stuff rather it means to do what is deemed important. It also emphasizes eliminating the inessentials. Better time management results in quality work, quality social life, and an organized personality but constant planning, review, and revision is required until it becomes a habit (Hisrich and Peters, 2002).

Time management can be learned by planning and staying with it (Steven, 2009).  An important part of planning is prioritizing. Prioritizing means list out the tasks you have to do and classify them according to their priority, and then spend most of your time on the important and urgent tasks (Tavakoli et al, 2013).

Time management skills help organisations to better utilize their scarce time resources, allow them to put their attention on the matters of highest priority that results in improved job performance (Claessens et al, 2007). Today’s competitive world requires various demands to be accomplished in the limited time period (Orlikowsky and Yates, 2002).

Organizations must also ensure that they meet the demands and requirements of customers, and are adaptable to specific requirements, responds to the changes in the external environment and the demands of the situation (Valleria, 2009). Performance is the combination of efficiency and effectiveness. Organizations require workers that are efficient and effective in their work.

The effectiveness of organizations depends upon the effectiveness of their time utilization. According to Lufunyo (2013) nowadays time management is seen as an important technique that allows managers in the organisation to accomplish more, serve more, and if undertaken in a good way, is a customer-oriented profession. Effective use of time is an active, not passive, undertaking rather than simply recording dates, times, and details of meetings and tasks (Gupta, 2012).

According to Philpot (2011), In order to make more efficient and effective use of your time, you must be able to plan for the future and prioritize the present. Time increases productivity and thus productivity increases profits. This makes time management one of the most important aspects of a successful business.

In spite of its high significance organizations do not treat it as the essential ingredient of survival (Adebisi, 2013). Time management is now taken as a separate field of study and it has become imperative for the organizations to hire consultants to teach employees how they can better employ their time. Some organizations now arrange time management workshops and seminars that are quite helpful for the employees to better manage their time (Abd-el Aziz, 2012).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Time is a necessity for every organization in achieving its goals and objectives. The attempt to accomplish the desired goal poses a great threat to the organization. The performance of an organization may depend on how well its employees can effectively utilize it available time in their various activities.

Also, most organizations tend to experience the problem of management of time in what is set in motion to achieve with the Buea Council not being an exception. Cordiner (1990) says that effective time management is everything every viable organization can employ to ensure effective, efficient management of time by employees to enhance productivity and increase overall performance.

The success of all whole of the management process of planning, organizing, directing and controlling depends significantly on the appropriate management of time. In life, it is not all about doing the right thing, but doing the right thing at the right time.  It has been noted from previous studies that the effective management of time is a major factor for individual and organisational success (Devos et al., 2008).

Despite all the positive contributions of time management to an organisation, employees and staff at the Buea Council face a number of problems and challenges centering on inefficiencies in its time management. These problems or challenges range as a result of poor working conditions, late payment of wages, lack of adequate maintenance of human resource policy, lack of self-discipline, late coming is frequently observed among staff and employees of the Buea Council. As a result of these issues, the council is unable to meet its set goals, causing a lost in revenue, poor customer satisfaction and employees’ work quality. It’s against these issues that the study seeks to investigate the effects of time management on organisational’ performance, to continuously sensitize the employees in the Buea Council about the benefits of managing their time properly.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What is the effect of time management on organisational performance in the Buea Council?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

1. What is the effect of time planning on organisational performance in the Buea Council?
2. What is the effect of time prioritizing on organisational performance in the Buea Council?
3. What is the effect of time control on organisational performance in the Buea Council?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1.4.1 Main Objectives

The main objective of the study is to examine the effect of time management on organisational performance in the Buea Council.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

Specifically, the study would seek to:

1. Evaluating the extent to which time planning affect organisational performance in the Buea Council.
2. Examine prioritizing of time affects organisational performance in the Buea Council
3. To analyze the effect of time control on organisational’ performance in the Buea Council.