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    Transportation models of time allocation : a contribution to objective consumption theory : a thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1990) Mahon, Ian Thomas
    This thesis investigates the optimal allocation of time by a rational agent in terms of his behaviour settings and social requirements. Time is considered as a scarce resource and as an objective measure of activities. Conceptually the models of time allocation are transportation models and share the same mathematical structure. The findings of eco-behavioural science suggest that the behaviour of an agent, as an individual decision maker, will be shaped by environments. Behaviour settings, corresponding to sources in the transportation models, are used to define environments. As a member of society the agent is required to meet parameters of social position, a set of requirements corresponding to sinks in the transportation models. Time use studies provide quantitative measures of the agent's activities. Hence the model is able to specify constraints on the agent's time use in terms of behaviour settings and social relations. The core model shows the relationship between groups, or classes, of agents and their lifestyles. The agent as rational decision maker is faced with the choice of meeting the demands of social position by activities in selected environments, while minimizing the total cost of the lifestyle. Each activity uses up time and incurs a money cost. The optimal solutions specify both the type and level of the activities which the agent undertakes in order to meet the parameters of social position. An equivalent program (the dual) exists. The agent is faced with the choice of maximising the net imputed value of time use, so long as the net value of a unit of time is less than or equal to the per unit cost. Conceptually there are two transportation models. Both are concerned with the particular case of a student as a rational decision maker. In the slack model the focus is on the activities of a particular student. By way of contrast the focus in the tight model is on the activities of the average student, and there is a time distribution not only at sources but also at sinks. This model is useful to social accounts. Three equivalent formulations of the transportation model are outlined. A technology matrix, defined as the agent's socio-economic production function, denotes the set of production processes available to the agent, given behaviour settings (environments) and parameters of social position. An element of the socio-economic production function is termed an activity. The choice of certain activities by the agent represents a particular lifestyle described by a specific time distribution. Social income, defined as the value of social position plus net earned income is a scalar measure (in dollars) of the agent's lifestyle. To show that the models are operational, simple 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 models are introduced and extended in the final three chapters. A methodology is developed for obtaining per unit costs. A step-by-step approach is used to derive a 5 x 5 cost matrix from two sets of actual data, obtained independently. The effects of changes in the parameters of the time allocation models are analyzed.
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    An investigation of the relationship between students' perceptions of workload and their approaches to learning at a regional polytechnic : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2009) Giles, Laraine
    This thesis investigates students? perceptions about their workload and their approaches to learning, employing a regional polytechnic as a case study. Data was collected using a mixed methods approach. The convenience sample consisted of 269 full-time undergraduate students who completed a questionnaire indicating whether they perceived the workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times, and those who did specified the reasons for their perceptions. All respondents also completed a modified ASSIST instrument to indicate the approach to learning they adopted. Analysis of the questionnaire data indicated that the majority of students perceived their workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times with the main reason given as too many assessments due around the same time. The issues raised from the data confirmed the results of other studies and pointed to a range of issues both internal and external to the institution. Thirty follow-up interviews were conducted to further investigate the issues raised in the questionnaire. A complex picture emerged from the interview data of a number of inter-related aspects in the teaching-learning environment that impacted on perceived workload and approach to learning, including assessment and overloaded curricula, motivation, time management problems resulting from part-time jobs or family commitments, and lecturer support. Trends or patterns signalled by the data provided an important first step to assist in planning changes in the teaching-learning environment at the regional polytechnic. The main recommendations were centred on a long term, collaborative action-research project to be set up within a programme, to review curricula, create a more stimulating and responsive teaching-learning environment, foster learning communities, and ensure a consistent approach to developing generic skills. The aim of the recommendations was to ensure students are motivated to learn, engaged, and have the skills and information needed to be effective learners, which in turn has the potential to change perception of workload and impact on approach to learning.
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    Impacts of imposed polychronic behaviour upon performance and well being in academic work environments : a 90 point thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Management at Massey University, Turitea, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2009) Love, Laurna M.
    In the contemporary workplace individuals differ considerably in the manner they approach their work and achieve outcomes. This thesis examined the construct of polychronicity (preference for undertaking multiple tasks simultaneously) within two intellectually intensive academic work environments. The impacts of imposed polychronicity on performance, job satisfaction, perceived stress and wellbeing were explored. Data was collected from 116 lecturers, teachers, supervisors and managers working in Northern Queensland, Australia. A quantitative approach was taken to data collection. Existing scales were used to measure a range of variables including preferred polychronicity, experienced work unit polychronicity, organisational commitment, job satisfaction, and perceived stress. To provide a qualitative perspective, respondents were asked for comments which were used to add depth and breadth to the study. The findings indicated that preferred polychronicity and experienced work unit polychronicity did not differ over genders or occupations which suggests that polychronicity is likely to be a personal trait. Responses were divided into polychronic, neutral or monochronic preference categories. The findings indicated that when polychronicity was high organisational commitment was high, but when monochronicity was high organisational commitment was lower. Further the findings indicated that when organisational commitment was high, job satisfaction was high and when organisational commitment was low stress was high, although polychrons relationship with stress was lower than that of monochrons. This may suggest that polychrons work better in an imposed polychronic environment than monochrons which supports previous research. The implication for employers is that through understanding the tasking preferences of employees they may be able to tailor strategies to improve and enhance personal wellbeing which in turn may increase job satisfaction, performance, wellbeing and reduce turnover.
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    The relationship between different email management strategies and the perceived control of time
    (Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2006) Forsyth, Darryl; Chen, EeMun
    Time management research, and the psychological construct of perceived control of time, are drawn on to investigate populist claims of the virtues of regularly filing and organising ones electronic mail. Using a process model of time management, it would seem that filing of email may increase ones time control perceptions and thus their job satisfaction and wellbeing. One hundred and sixty five participants were involved in a questionnaire-based field study. Analyses of variance revealed that for some e-mail users, not having a filing system may result in a high perceived control of time. Furthermore, challenging assumptions regarding optimal e-mail organisation, those that tried to frequently file their incoming messages, but did so somewhat unsuccessfully, had significantly less perceived control of time. These results highlight individual differences in control of time perceptions, and recommendations are made regarding organisational e-mail behaviour and training.
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    Determiners of accuracy when making an expected duration estimation: The role of ‘past’ event/task saliency
    (Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2006) Forsyth, Darryl
    One of the important ‘skills’ which is associated with effective time management is the ability to accurately estimate the probable duration of a to-be-scheduled event or task. The present study explored the effect that presenting a highly salient, similar to-be-estimated task had on a subsequent task estimate. Participants in this experiment tended to allocate significantly less time to the completion of a task if they had previously estimated the expected duration of a similar, shorter task. Conversely, they tended to allocate significantly more time to the completion of a task if they had previously estimated the expected duration of a similar but longer task. The results are discussed in relation to future developments in scheduling/time management software.
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    The effect that rounding to prototypical values has on expected duration estimation accuracy
    (Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2006) Forsyth, Darryl; Burt, Christopher
    The scheduling component of the time management process was used as a ‘paradigm’ to investigate the estimation of duration of future tasks. Two experiments looked at the effect that the tendency to provide estimates in the form of rounded close approximations had on estimation accuracy. Additionally, the two experiments investigated whether grouping tasks together prior to scheduling would decrease duration estimation error. The majority of estimates provided in both experiments were categorised as rounded close approximations, and were overestimates of the actual time required to complete the experimental tasks. The grouping together of the relatively short tasks used in Experiment 1 resulted in a significant increase in estimation accuracy. A similar result was found in Experiment 2 for relatively long tasks. The results are discussed in relation to the basic processes used to estimate the duration of future tasks, and means by which these scheduling activities can be improved.