IMPLEMENTATION OF TIME MANAGEMENT, ISSUES AND

CHALLENGES-AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

M.R.Srikumar, Research Scholar, Mrs.KanchanaArun, Assistant Professor

School of Hotel and Catering Management,

Vels University, Velan Nagar, P.V.Vaithialingam Road, Pallavaram, Chennai –
600117, Tami Nadu, India
CorrespondingMail Id :sri89_hcm@yahoo.com
Mobile No : 9171956789

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OBJECTIVES:
METHOD/STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:
FINDINGS:
APPLICATION/IMPROVEMENT:
KEYWORDS:
Time is an important factor in everyone’s life as it is a key tool helping one in organizing,
planning, prioritizing and completing any task successfully. Time management plays a vital role
in any field, especially the hotel industry. One of the most valuable tools for the hotel industry is
efficient and effective time management. This would include how they allocate and spend time
for the regular as well as adhoc tasks in each and every department. It is imperative that time
management is a required skill for any role in any department that will boost the productivity,
ensure customer and employee satisfaction. It is understood that time management is not an easy
skill and there are various factors influencing proper time management. The factors would
include but not limited to unplanned day, unpleasant tasks, employee drop-ins, lack of manpower
and coordination, social media, handling calls and mails etc., these issues are to be analyzed as it
is crucial for any organization to keep up the time management skills to complete tasks and
achieve target on time.
The Objective of the paper is to present the challenges and problems with identifying the issues
for implementing the concept of time management in an organization.
METHODOLOGY:
The analysis is conducted based on collecting data by taking survey from respondents from
various hotels to identify the time management problem, how far the lack of time management
affects business process and the significant role of proper time management.

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Time Management is the process of organizing, planning and mastering how to split and allocate
your time between specific activities or in other words refers to handling time effectually so that
the right time is allocated to right work. Good time management aids you to work smarter rather
than work tougher or harder so that you get more work done in less time, even during tight
deadlines and high pressure situations. Failing to manage your time destructs your efficiency
and effectiveness to deliver the desired results and causes loads of stress; so time management is
the key factor to being productive efficiently and effectively. The key elements of time
management are goals, organization, delegation and relaxation. Effective time management is the
investment of time through which suitable results are attained from activities within a certain
work period or time range and it emphasize an effectiveness rather than efficiency. One’s
knowledge or ability to choose between the important and unimportant and to be focused and
determined to follow the chose sequence is the key determinant of effectiveness in time
management, Mr.ValerieP.Jackson(2009)
Time management plays a vital role not only in work place but in personal lives as well. Time
management includes but not limited to vital planning, setting goals or targets or objectives,
setting time limit for the respective tasks, delegation of responsibilities, prioritizing activities and
spending the right time on the right task etc. Like in any industry, Time management plays a
vital role in hotel industry as well. One of the most valuable strengths or benefits for any hotel
operations is how its managers devote their quality time at work. Leaders have huge
responsibilities in managing time because only effective leaders can expect effective followers.
Leaders have to take more initiative in managing time and organizing and coordinating events.
They can also encourage their followers to be future leaders and often challenge tasks. In order
to manage all this effectively the leaders must manage their time in fact themselves,
Mrs.NagasudhaRavinuthala(2005). Schedules and structures are important facets in each and
every business day. There are some conditions that may vary from a hotel to another due to the
size, kind and the level of service, the number of departments as well as other management needs
that have to be coordinated, conducted, while being supervised. Creating a common schedule
table is not possible for every individual situation however each manager should clearly focus
and generate a basic schedule plan and maintain a list of things to do in an assembled manner.
Increasing focus is tone of the key for effective time management. Increased focus along with
properly prioritizing the schedules will help to achieve more and thus become productive and
keep moving towards one’s goal states Mr.VivekBindra(2015).
Your personal growth will be influenced only by the way you invest your time, along with the
spinning world. Mr.ShankarDigambarBagade(1997) states that an efficient person do not spend
time but invest it. An efficient person uses tacts, facts, skill, thoughts, time and imagination. The
essence of time management lies in knowing the art of delegating and planning intelligently.
Effective time management always leads to higher productivity and successful career.

1.2 DEFINITIONS:
Time Management in general refers to the implementation or development of techniques and
tools that increase the efficiency and productivity of business. Time management is the process
of setting targets or goals, prioritizing those goals, deciding and allocating specified time to
specific tasks, tuning plans as they change, revisiting the goals to prioritize regularly and
observing the results.(Carla Crutsinger,1994)Mr. Lynn Underwood(2001) indicates that time
management is managing the time of self and the time of others. One may need to struggle to
overcome one’s own personality. If one is sort of person who tends to put off tasks until the very
last minute, he/she is going to have to make immense efforts to change the way of working.
Mr.Reuben Roy(2008) states that time management is splitting your time among various
activities in which you are involved throughout a given period of time. It may help to three
categories such as organization-imposed, boss-imposed and self-imposed.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY :

 To study the different time management tools.
 To identify the challenges in managing time at work and personal life.
 To find out the impact of and need for improving quality time.

1.4 THE ROLE OF TIME MANAGEMENT

Time Management plays a vital role in any field, as it is one of the key tools to complete any
course of work in a specified time. Time Management helps in developing the skill of setting
goal and to achieve the same in a targeted period of time.
The role of time management is that great as it helps to improve the ability of organizing,
planning, decision making, prioritizing and ensure a better performance. It allows one to assign
time slot to the works or activities as per priority or importance.
Time management also boosts an individual’s morale and keep people confident in the course of
work. It keeps one away from unnecessary distractions thus one may be free from stress.
It greatly helps in keeping interruptions and intrusion out of the workplace, making sure
interruptions are short and thus be more productive. Time is very unique, crucial resource of
accomplishment and managing time measures one success or failure and time management place
you in the side of success. It would also support in training advancement for workers and in
measurement of capacity of any staff and the entire organization.
It is rightly said that time management is life management.

1.5 THE BENEFITS OF TIME MANAGEMENT

Time Management helps one to stay on top of the time thus it improves the ability of taking
up any task and complete it on time which directly helps in reducing the stress level.
It helps to focus on the target by ensuring smooth and sharp performance.
It helps to decrease procrastination by having clear control on the tasks we do.
Time Management benefits one in being more productive by getting more tasks done in less
time.
It helps in work-life balance. When you are capable of managing time, you benefit in all
areas of life thus it improves the reputation of both personal life and work career.

1.6 THE CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS OF TIME MANAGEMENT

The main challenges or problems of time management are:
 Interruptions and distraction :
Interruptions and distractions are an unavoidable portion of life. For example, People
often find interrupted or distracted during their work by means of phone calls, meetings,
sudden visitors, mails, social media etc. If you effort to put time management guidelines
into practice, you will be able to manage your time and your output with greater comfort
to stay focused, less dazed and on way.

 Multitasking:
People struggle or fail to manage their time often by multitasking i.e. getting involved in
various tasks simultaneously. Multitasking does not make us more effectual. We would
get satisfied results if we focus on one thing at a time rather trying various tasks done at
the same time.

 Procrastination:
Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing the task which needs to be
accomplished or achieved. Some people often postpone or ignore tasks which has to be
completed to deal with it later which results in poor time management. It is one of the
greatest barriers or challenges of time management.
 Improper Planning or Time Management:
Some people never plan their day before starting which results in lack of efficient time
management. Lack of planning leads to insufficient groundwork, unexpected or sudden
problems and poor execution.

 Finding difficult to say no to people :

Most of the people are finding hard or difficult to say no to people which becomes one of
the aspects of lack of efficient productivity. At times we do things which is of no use to
us just for the sake of other people. So one must always learn to say no at times to utilize
time for his/her own productivity.

 Hard to prioritize tasks:

Prioritizing tasks in one the important points of time management. Some people have no
clue how to prioritize their tasks resulting in one of the challenges of time management.
Since time is precious and cannot be retrieved, the main thing one has to do is to say No
frequently to complete own tasks on time.
1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The primary data is collected through survey method using questionnaire. 100 respondents have
been approached with the questionnaire, 150 questions were presented to respondents where 123
were valuable data.

Chart one depicting respondents dealing with interruptions during work

Never 18
Often
10
Rarely
Source: Primary Data
Always 30
0 5 10 15 20 42From the above data it is clear that 42% of the
25 30 35
40 45
respondents are always dealing with
interruptions during work whereas 30% are
rarely interrupted, 18% often and 10% are
never interrupted.

Chart two depicting factors that spoil time management efforts

44

50
27
40
19
30
20 10

10
0

Source: Primary Data

From the above data it is clear that 44% of the respondents chose all the given options as factor
that spoil time management efforts whereas 27% for not removing distractions, 19% being
indecisive and 10% for multitasking.

Chart three depicting factors that act as a major resource for an effective and efficient
work
 36
30
26
40
35
30
25
20 8
15
10
5
0
Time Men Money Material

Source: Primary Data

From the above data it is clear that 36% of the respondents chose time as a major resource for an
effective and efficient work whereas 30% opt for money, 26% men and 8% material.
Chart four depicting factors that respondents spend too much time on
41

29

50 22
40
30
20 8
10
0
Meetings
Paper work
Handling
Calls Writing
Reports

Source: Primary Data

From the above table it is clear that 41% of the respondents spend too much time on paper
works, whereas 29% on meetings. 22% handling calls and 8% spend in writing reports.

Chart Five depicting respondents who find hard to prioritize their work
45
40
40 31
35
30
25
20 16
15 13
10
5
0
Always Sometimes Rarely Not at all

Source: Primary Data

From the above table it is found that 40% of the respondents are always finding difficult to
prioritize their work whereas 31% sometimes, 16% rarely and 13 not at all.
 Chart Six depicting factors that cause delay at work
54

22
60 14
10
40
20
0

Source: Primary Data

From the above table it is found that 54% of the respondents state Multitasking is a major factor
that causes delay at work whereas 22% opt for lack of time, 14% for improper time management
and 10% chose unwanted interruptions.

Chart seven depicting respondents who find difficult to say no to people

 18

24
Strongly Disagree
22
Disagree
36
Partially Agree

Agree

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Source: Primary Data
From the above table it is clear that 36% of the respondents are strongly agree that they find
difficult to say no to people whereas 24% partially agree, 22% disagree and 18% strongly
disagree.

Chart eight depicting factors that failing in time management may lead to
42
50
40 24
30 20
20 14
10
0
Insufficient Poor work High stress All the
work flow quality level above

Source: Primary Data

From the above table it is clear that 42% of the respondents chose failing in time management
may lead to all the given factors such as high stress level, poor work quality & insufficient work
flow whereas 24% opt for high stress level, 20% for insufficient work flow and 14% chose poor
work quality.

1.8 CONCLUDING REMARKS

The primary focus of this study is to determine the challenges, problematic and success key
issues of Implementing Time Management. Developing time management skills certainly
enhance and improve the overall quality of work and life. Time management is very important in
each and every industry and for every individual. Time is a very limited resource which once lost
cannot be retrieved; hence one must always consider spending time as investing time. One must
be aware of the time he/she is investing to have a better lifestyle. First step in using time more
efficiently is to become aware of what wastes time. For improving time management in the
workplace, one must safeguard one’s peak performance time, learn to say “No”, prioritize tasks
kept for a day, delegate the work, consolidate and steam line tasks and stop procrastinating,
Mr.SarveshSatija (2013).
From this study it is found that most of the people (respondents) are always interrupted during
work and multitasking is the factor that mainly causes delay in work. Other factors that spoil
time management efforts are multitasking, being indecisive and not removing distractions. It is
learnt from the study that, time is the major factor for effective and efficient working and failing
in time management may lead to insufficient workflow, poor work quality and high stress level.
So one must always plan things in advance, avoid multitasking and reduce the uncertainty,
distractions and make sure the environment around is working to strengthen the focus and
willpower. It only requires commitment to succeed. Yes, Time Management is a life
management.
This study helps to learn, focus and master the time management skills not only in hotel industry
but also in other sectors like hospitals, travel and tourism sectors, IT firms etc

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