An Evaluation of the Effects of a Time Management Training Program on Work Efficiency

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate whether the amount of time spent on high-priority tasks could be increased through the use of a training manual and weekly meetings with a time management consultant, and to see what effect changes in high-priority time would have on self-rated scores of work effectiveness and satisfaction. The four participants in the study were members of the faculty and staff at West Virginia University and were selected on the basis of having difficulty in accomplishing high-priority work due to procrastination, interruptions, or poor planning. The major effect following intervention was an increase in high-priority time. The Pre-Intervention and Post-Intervention change in average time spent each day on high-priority tasks for each individual was: 28 minutes, increased to 2 hours and 19 minutes; 6 minutes, increased to 2 hours and 38 minutes; 17 minutes, increased to 2 hours and 24 minutes: and 28 minutes, increased to 1 hour and 32 minutes. The weekly self-evaluations of effectiveness and satisfaction followed roughly the same pattern as the changes in high-priority time. The Intervention was administered using a multiple-baseline across individuals design. The effect occurred at a different time for each participant, and only after the introduction of the treatment. One can conclude from these findings that the time management training program was effective in increasing time spent on high-priority tasks, and, as a result of this increase, self-ratings of productivity and satisfaction also increased.