Abstract

This research is on examining the effects of time management on employee performance, a case study of CDC Bota Limbe. The specific objectives of this study were to investigate how time is managed in CDC Bota, to investigate how time management affects employee productivity and to make necessary recommendations. The research design used is quantitative research design. The total sample of 50 respondents was selected and the technique used to obtain the sample is systematic sampling. The primary data were collected through the use of questionnaire The major findings of this study revealed that, employees of CDC Bota Limbe are aware with the potentialities of managing time at the work place. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis.

Keywords: Time management and employee’s performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to The Study

In the world of today, major theories do exist on time management and they can be classified as being endogenous meaning it helps to improve on employees’ performance (Atkinson et al., 1980.) Time management is one of the major issues faced by organisations today and thus if time is effectively managed in any organisation or company, it would improve on its productivity all things being equal.

However, it is worthy of note that employees’ performance is not only boost by the nature of the job but also alongside other incentives which account for the reason why many organisations have implemented other means of influencing employees to work at their full capacity. Extra allowances to hard working employees and other fringe benefit are prime examples.

The recognition of the importance of time management in the world is traced back to the period of scientific management in 1911 as Taylor together with the work of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth became the launching pad for today’s time management (Taylor, 2012). In the scientific management the relationship between time management and performance of work was restricted to manual workers. In the 1950’s time study was introduced as the method for effectively coping with the time issues on the job (Drucker, 1967). It was also the result of increased competition in the world and the need to achieve the goal within a short time. Taylor’s scientific approach to management, aimed at shop management, centered on the principle of effective time management. He advocated better use of time through which payment to employees were much considered to the goal achievement. An awareness of time management started to take a chance in human mind, whereby planning ahead became a strategy, thus many organisations tried to increase their production through scheduling, setting goals and prioritizing the tasks.

The ability to manage time effectively becomes a fundamental to work performance, after the world has realised time wasters in the 21st century that had never seen. In fact, development of communication technology for instance, cell phones, and internet have become major agents of time wasters nowadays that has brought many requests or suggestions of things to do than ever and has influenced the failures among employees in accomplishing their task on time (Erwin, 2009). The situation has increased ahead deck to managers in different angles of the world on finding alternatives that can improve work performance of individuals in the organisation, although different techniques have been developed to utilise time better for instance, enacting of laws and regulations to shape the behaviour of individuals at workplace and motivating employees but time management is the only alternative for the aims of achieving high productivity within a given time frame. Moreover, the perception of time management as an important phenomenon at workplace has increased due to the fact that many organisations have realised a cost of losing time (Taylor, 2012).

Morgenstern (2009) suggested the “DO’s “and “DON’TS” of time management that help improve employees’ performance. They are: mapping everything that is important, making the task lists, create an oasis of time to control say “NO” set priorities, don’t drop anything and don’t think a critical task will get done in one spare of time. With all these it helps the employees to manage their time efficiently thus paving success towards employees’ performance.

Prioritized by Organising, Streamlining, Economizing and Contributing in relation to time management (POSEC) is a method that dictates a template which emphasizes on average individuals immediate sense of emotional and monetary security. This acronym suggested that by effectively communicating and participating with employees, it gives them the desire to effectively manage the time allocated for them to carry out their activities and thus improving on their performance. More so, a cauterization scheme for time management approaches have been offered by Steven et al., (2009) and they are; First generation (clocks and watches), second generation (planning and preparation based on calendars and appointment), third generation (being efficient and proactive using any of the above said tools).

Around the 1980s most people and organisations whose aim was to do more work in less time were caught in act by time management. They key word used everywhere was effectiveness and timetables were made available which fitted the activities according to their daily schedules and “Time is money” was the popular slogan used everywhere and it was an exciting experience with lots of energy though it was not sustainable. In 1980, Desiree Steinmann said that working 60-80 hours a week might be alright for a while though it may have consequences like family disorder and a lot of stress on the part of the worker which may result to illnesses.

In 1990, time management took a new dimension as opposed to 1980. In the light of this, many families separated as there was no time to be together and share the family bond. Burn-Out system was a disease that was on everyone’s lips which looking at the hind side we realized that when people are separated from their desires and value while focusing only on output productivity, then burn-out is bound to occur. Today, recent theories have shown that a normal task that looks like three years to do in about ten years ago now operates in barely a year which implies too much stress.

Employees in all organisations are expected to be motivated for their efforts which in essence will lead to high productivity and also, organisational efficiency will be attained when time is effectively managed. Employees are motivated and their time well spent if these rewards are high and the reverse will be the case if they are low. Job evaluation is a criteria used to determine the relative worth of a job and welfare facilities such as canteens with substantial prices, transport, accommodations in the host of others should be provided by the organisation as it helps manage organizational time the effect of which is enormous increase in productivity and thus improved employees’ performance.

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities especially increase effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. It involves certain range of activities like planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, monitoring, organizing, scheduling, prioritizing, just to name a few. Time management has been divided into subsets of other different concepts like project management, attention management and personal knowledge management (Stephen Smith 2010).

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). Although time management had its start over a hundred years ago, the need for time management is greater than ever. As the pace of life increases, the perception of time changes whereby people in the organisations are considered a superior performer when achieve the goals on time.

 

1.2 Problem Statement

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 still find it very difficult to appear for work on time especially in CDC Limbe where late coming has become the order of the day. And as such, this study is out to investigate the effects of time management on employees’ performance, so as to continuously sensitize the employees in CDC about the benefits of managing their time properly.

In the course of this investigation, we have to answer the following research questions;

1. How is time management carried out in C.D.C. Bota?
2. Does time management affect employees’ productivity?

 

1.3 Objectives of The Study

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of time management on employees’ performance.

Specific objectives include;

1. Investigate how time is managed in C.D.C. Bota.
2. Investigating how time management affects employee’s productivity.
3. Making necessary recommendations based on the objectives

 

1.4 Hypothesis of The Study

Here a statement is made to determine whether or not time management affects employee performance.

H1: Time management significantly affects employee productivity at CDC Limbe

 

1.5 Significance of The Study

The key reason for undertaking this research is to determine the effects of time management on employee performance at CDC Bota Limbe.

This study is also important in the following aspects.

Theoretically this study helps us to know that time, if properly managed, can have positive consequences to us all.

Managerial: this study will help the management of CDC by bringing to their knowledge other efficient methods through which they can better manage time to increase employee output.

Student: this study is important to me as a student because it serves a partial fulfillment for the award of a Bachelor’s degree in Management.

 

1.6 Organisation of The Study

This study is structured in five chapters. Chapter one has been introduced. It has given the background information of the study, the problem statement, the objectives of the study, research questions, research hypothesis, significance of the study, and scope of the study, organisation of the work. Chapter two reviews the literature related to the topic. It gives the definition of all the concepts used and also it explores all the theories related to our topic. Chapter three explains the methodology. Chapter four is the presentation and discussion of results obtained while, chapter five gives the summary of major findings, conclusion and recommendations.