unit 7 总结1

Key Concepts

Monochromic time: 一元时间，在同一时间内只做一件事

原文：This approach to time is called monochronic time-it is

an approach that favors linear structure and focus on event

or interaction at a time.

Polychronic time: 多元时间，在同一时间做多件事情

原文：People may attend to many things happening at once

in this approach to time,called polychronic time.It’s means

many conversations in a moment , such as a meeting in

which people speak simultaneously, “talking over” each

other as they discuss their subject.

Linear structure: 线性结构，在时间规划上十分明确同时也很单调

原文：同Monochronic time

Schedule oriented : 以计划和安排为方向（主导）， 严格按照计划利用时间。

原文：Schedules and procedures take on a life of their own

without reference to either logic or human needs. （不考虑逻辑和人的需求制定各种引导他们生活的规划和进程）

People oriented :以人为本，与schedule oriented 相对，对时间灵活利用，比较随意，没有明确的规划

原文：If you value people , you must hear them out and can’t cut them off simply because of a schedule. For them，

feelings of wasted time are not as prevalent or serious as in

M-time cutures.(比如说听他人讲话的时候，不能因要完成原定计划而打断别人，他们对时间的浪费并不太看重)

Punctuality : 准时，守时

原文：In a word,in M-time cultures one who violates the rule

of punctuality shall be punished seriously.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is monochronic culture?

It is an approach that favors linear structure and focus on

one event or interaction at a time.

What is polychronic culture?

This may mean many conversations in a moment, such as a

meeting in which people speak simultaneously, "talking

over" each other as they discuss their subjects.

2. What are the different attitudes monchronic people and

polychronic people hold toward time?

Monochronic people see time as being divided into fixed

elements,sequential blocks that can be organized, quantified,

and scheduled. They love to plan in detail, make lists, keep

track of activities, and organized time into a detail routine.

Only after one task is completed are they comfortable

moving to another, and switching back and forth from one

task to another is not only wasteful and distracting, it is also

uncomfortable.

Polychronic people prefer not to have detailed plans

imposed on them but want to make their own plans and

meet deadlines in their own way. Switching from one activity

to another is both stimulating and productive and the most

desirable way to work.

3. What difficulties might an M-time-oriented person

encounter（偶遇） when interacting someone who follows a

P-time-orientation?

If a monchronic woman has a polychronic hairdesser,there

will inevitably be problem,even if she has a regular

appointment and is scheduled at the same time each week.In circumstances like these, the hairdresser (following his or

her own pattern)will inevitably feel compelled to "squeeze

people in."

What kind of feelings might emerge（浮现） during their

meeting?

As a consequence，the regular customer, who has

scheduled her time very carefully(which is why she has a

standing appointment in the first place),is kept waiting and

feels put down, angry, and frustrated.

4.What difficulties might a P-time-oriented person

encounter（偶遇） when meeting someone who follows a

M-time orientation ? What kind of feeling might emerge

during their meeting ?

The P-time-oriented person is not easy to change his

plane with the M-time-oriented person.

The M-time-oriented person might feels put down ,

angry, and frustrated .because the P-time-oriented person

might make the one wait for long. He thinks it is a waste of

time ,and everything should be organized, quantified and

scheduled .The P-time-oriented person might feels being late is normal ,and the M-time-oriented person is too oriented to

task.

5.what are the strengths and weakness of M-time-system and

P-time-system?

M-time-system : people in this cultures tend to follow

precise scheduling ,by this, they can make everything in

their plane, but sometimes it is a waste of time .

P-time-system : people in this cultures can interaction and

relation more than one person or do more than one thing at

a time. but Polychronic individuals are oriented towards

people ,and their planes may change at any time .switching

back and forth from one task to another is not wasteful and

distracting ,it is uncomfortable .