Knowledge Workers' Time Management As Sociomaterial Practice

Motivated by the apparent problems many knowledge workers have with managing their time effectively and the tremendous costs to individuals and organizations arising from these problems, we investigated the time management practices of five knowledge workers and analysed the processes and relationships linking these practices with related time management strategies and artefacts. Building on the conceptual foundations of the sociomaterial practice lens, we were able to identify three general objectives pursued with time management practices: remembering tasks, deciding what to do next, and maintaining a well-organized work place. In total we found 14 different practices for time management and could show the importance of both human and material agency in constituting the practices we observed. Furthermore we found practices to be highly interrelated. Similarly, previous practices also have a strong influence on current ones. Thus, changes in one practice will likely impact other practices as well and the actual effects are influenced by personal history and will be hard to predict in advance due to the emergent nature of the change.