A Monochronic/Polychronic Self Test)

This instrument is designed to assist you in understanding your personal cultural preferences, with respect to both work style and management style. It may serve as an indicator of how you might adapt in certain organizations and global regions.

Pick the letter that best describes your preferred opinion or behavior in an organizational situation. The letters A thorough E are a scale with C representing the midpoint between the two extremes. As best you can, determine where your opinion or behavior would occur most consistently on the scale for each of the situations below.

1. When working on a project, you find it most effective to:

2. You work most effectively in an organization when:

3. When you are assigned a project that is due at a specific time, you:

4. Organizational information is most efficiently shared and disseminated through:

5. To be successful, an organization must focus most on:

6. The best project results are produced when everyone agrees:

7. When you want to discuss something with a co-worker whose office door is closed, you would probably:

8. With respect to your valued possessions, you:

9. When you are late for a scheduled appointment, you feel that:

10. In general, after you no longer serve a valued client, you tend to:

11. A sign of a good manager is her or his ability to:

12. Your business presentation style tends to be:

13. Businesses run best when job responsibilities are:

14. In a fast-paced, decentralized, information-oriented society, important business matters:

15. The most successful business ventures are dependent upon:

16. The most effective way to contribute to an organization is to:

Scoring Instructions

For each letter chosen, A, B, C, D, or E , write the number of times it was circled next tot the appropriate letter in the spaces below, and multiply this number by the figure shown. For example, if B was circled five (5) times, write "5" in the blank space beside B and complete the multiplication, "5" X 2 = "10". Finally, add the products in this column to obtain a total numerical score.

A ____ x 0  = _____

B ____ x 2  = _____

C ____ x 5  = _____

D ____ x 8  = _____

E ____ x 10 = _____

TOTAL _______

          

Interpretation of Scores

0-40 Highly Monochronic = A to B range on the scale.

These individuals approach work with specific and detailed plans and schedules, to which they are highly committed . The realization of business objectives is their highest priority, and personal relationships are one dimension among many toward this end. These individuals prefer specialized and unique work responsibilities, private working conditions, and short-term, formal work relationships. They are inclined to communicate impersonally and in low context. Their decision making tends to be individualistic, timely, and based on their position of influence within the organization. The essence of leadership in the individualistic vision of the future.

41-80 Moderately Monochronic = B to C range on the scale.

These individuals demonstrate an organized approach to projects and are committed to their completion on time. They ultimately prioritize the successful completion of projects, and tend to address tasks in an analytical and information-oriented manner. These individuals tend to prefer an isolated and uninterrupted work environment; social interaction has its appropriate time and place. Their significant communications are usually to the point, logical and written. Though group input is an important element in these individuals’ decision-making process, they ultimately rely on personal judgment to make important final decisions.

81-120 Moderately Polychronic = C to D range on the scale.

These individuals tend to assign work projects into a general time frame for completion, flexibly approaching project implementation and readily adjusting its execution when something more important comes along. They prefer performing many activities at the same time and working in teams. These individuals develop many informal, long-term working relationships as their means to realizing goals. Their communication of information tends to be personal and informal, rather than through official channels. They solicit and rely heavily on employee input for most decision making.

121-160 Highly Polychronic = D to E range on the scale.

These individuals multi dimensionally approach work projects with flexible, adjustable plans and shared responsibilities. They tend to believe success of business transactions is ultimately determined by the individuals involved and their cohesiveness as a team. Work is founded upon quality interpersonal interaction and long-term investment in community, which takes precedence over all forms of activity. Communication tends to be spontaneous and high context. Decision making is based on extensive group involvement, discussion, and consensus. The essence of leadership is the subtle balance of group consensus and personal vision.