Time Orientation: Abundant Time vs. Limited Time

Time orientation defines our sense of time and it is important in deciding if a culture is a
limited time culture or an abundant time culture. The Greek reference is chronos
(chronological time) or kairos (opportunity). Edward T. Hall uses the terms ‘monchronic’
and ‘polychromic’ time systems when discussing these concepts.26 Time Horizon
describes a culture’s way of looking at the time continuum.
Limited Time Culture
We live in a Limited Time Culture which believes that it is important to know when we
start, when we finish, and when projects are due. We like to have appointments at a
specific time and we believe that one person at a time should be served. We think
people should be served based on time of arrival (eg. “first come; first served”; the
British concept of ‘queuing’). In our culture being on time is very important and people
who are late or do not meet deadlines are considered to be slack and lazy.
Abundant Time Culture
People who live in an Abundant Time Culture see time as an opportunity or an event.
The time to start is when everyone has arrived. The time to finish is when everyone has
had a good visit and said what needed to be said. There is no rush because people are
a lot more important than time. “Time is understood more in terms of opportunity, the
right time, the appropriate time or the meaningful time. Thus, kairos people value the
moment, the event or the opportunity and try to make it significant or memorable.”27 First
Nations people, Latin Americans and Africans are among the abundant time cultures.
Time Horizon
People in mainstream North American culture, which is a relatively new culture, tend to
be focused on a time horizon which encompasses the immediate future and looks back
only to the recent past. Older cultures such (eg. Chinese, Indians, Ethiopians, and
Europeans) tend to have longer time horizons. Their focus is the past and they tend to
look back over a much longer period of history and the traditional or historical way of
doing things has an important influence in decision making.