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Dilemma 6: Short Term Versus Long Term ■ 129

thesis, lateral thinking, diffuse processes, spontaneous inter-
actions, system thinking, and other synchronic phenomena.
Another problem of the linear notion of time is that it has a ten-
dency to detach people from the “here and now.” In an attempt
to get the most out of life before our time here on Earth is up,
we sometimes let the really important moments of life go by.

Synchronic (parallel)
In the synchronic approach, time is a cycle given in min-
utes, days, weeks, months, and years. For people in such
cultures, time is an extendable notion that allows them to
do many things at the same time. In their view, time is a fl ex-
ible given. Engagements have the characteristics of a good
intention rather than an absolute appointment, and plans
are easily changed. Although some people might come later
to a meeting, it is probable that they gave the prior meeting
their time and attention, and it can be expected that they
will also stay and give the same attention to your meeting,
regardless of scheduled ending times.
While linear people can barely do one thing at a time,
synchronically programmed people can do a lot of things at
the same time. It has been said that women are better at this
than men. Rather than “a race against the clock,” people
from these cultures see life more like a dance. Here the trick
is to dance in rhythm with the environment.
In Japan, the synchronic notion of time has made indus-
trial adjustment: the just-in-time delivery of the stocks and
the split-second coordination of the activities in the factory.
Here stockpiles are not meters high. Staff know both what
is needed and, right down to the split second, when it is
needed, and that reduces costs. The fl ip side of the coin is
that the synchronic notion of time is not always effective.