Time Management

Time Management is a management field, which includes various methods of management with time being perceived as a limiting resource (time, we all have the same). The methods are aimed at gaining control over the time that a person or organization spends on certain activities or processes.

The aim is to increase productivity and efficiency of the time utilization. The methods are not only useful within the organizations and enterprises, but time management interferes with personal life and personal time and priorities planning. Therefore lifestyle, quality of life and mental hygiene are related concepts.

Views on time management evolved over time. We can talk about four generations of approaches to time management:

• First Generation of Time Management: Principles of the first generation were focused on the organization of tasks and activities
• Second Generation of Time Management: Principles of the second generation were based on the planning of tasks in time and setting goals. Characteristic is the use of different calendars and organizers
• Third Generation of Time Management: Principles of the third generation emphasize the coordination of various activities in the organization (tasks, programs, projects, strategic management, etc.), and emphasize the prioritization of objectives and tasks.
• Fourth Generation of Time Management: Principles of the fourth generation are returning back to a man, emphasize his value and quality of life and the harmony of personal priorities with corporate priorities and corporate values.

Use of the time management in practice: Time management affects all events in the organization because time management refers to managers at all levels of management, as well as all other workers. Everyone somehow manages his time. Despite all the different approaches, generations, methods and assistants, motivation and self-discipline play a key role in the time management.

Time management therefore includes methods and techniques of how to plan time and set priorities for tasks, projects, objectives and the coherence of personal and corporate values. This is a broad spectrum of methods that includes:

• Planning
• Setting objectives and tasks
• Prioritization of objectives and tasks
• Delegation
• Analyses of time spent
• Monitoring and control
• Time scheduling