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

This investigation sought to identify theoretically coherent and empirically robust dimensions underlying work group members’ perceptions of time (RQ1). We also tested the degree to which members’ time orientation varied across work groups (H1). Utilizing data from a self‐administered questionnaire completed by 337 employees of a national cable subcontractor with offices located in three regions of the United States, we identified three theoretically significant dimensions of time—separation, concurrency, and flexibility—via factor analysis (RQ1). The results of a discriminant function analysis conducted to test temporal differences among organizational groups supported H1. The findings suggest that work groups differ in theoretically meaningful ways with regard to time orientation and that their varied communication demands and patterns may contribute to these differences. Qualitative data are used to elaborate these results. Implications of these findings for communication, in general, and for group and organizational studies, in particular, are discussed, and several propositions for future research are offered.