Time orientation and temporal variation across work groups: Implications for group and organizational communication

This investigation sought to identify theoretically coherent and empiricall y robust dimensions underlying work group members' perceptions of time (RQ1 ). We also tested the degree to which members' time orientation varied acro ss work groups (H1). Utilizing data from a self-administered questionnaire completed by 337 employees of a national cable subcontractor with offices l ocated in three regions of the United States, we identified three theoretic ally significant dimensions of time-separation, concurrency, and flexibilit y-via factor analysis (RQ1). The results of a discriminant function analysi s conducted to test temporal differences among organizational groups suppor ted H1. The findings suggest that work groups differ in theoretically meani ngful ways with regard to time orientation and that their varied communicat ion demands and patterns may contribute to these differences. Qualitative d ata are used to elaborate these results. implications of these findings for communication, in general, and for group and organizational studies, in pa rticular, are discussed, and several propositions for future research are o ffered.