e2 ESQuaReD
Time ManagementBalancing Research, Teaching and Service
Matthew Dwyer
Laboratory for Empirically-based Software Quality Research
Department of Computer Science
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
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Broad Challenges
There are too many tasks to perform– simplify and/or drop something
Tasks take too long to perform– become more efficient and/or focused
Easier said than done!
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Basic Principles
Be realistic
Actively plan your time
Stick to the plan consistently
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Be realistic - managing your time
I have a colleague– extreme morning person– very structured with time management– also very successful!
Plan to your nature – perfectionist should schedule more time for a job– dreamers should schedule free thinking time
Pick and choose from this advice!
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Be realistic - invest for the long run Your career is a marathon not a sprint
– developing time management strategies now will payoff for decades
Productive time is all that matters at work – wall clock time is irrelevant – it can be frightening to log how you spend your time– try it once and scare yourself straight
Time off is important– a fresh brain is more productive
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Active time planning
Apply your analytical, problem-solving nature to time management
Make plans - week, month, 3-month, year, …– set specific deadlines for yourself– track progress– learn from mistakes
• was the plan wrong? • was the task harder than expected?
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Follow plan consistently
When push comes to shove …
blame it on the plan!
Establish a flexible plan– fluid, slush, and frozen portions of your schedule– open door when things are fluid– close door and post do not disturb when frozen
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Time Management Strategies
Focus your efforts
Creating time
Using time well
Students and time
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Focus your efforts : assess climate
Can't please everyone– you don't need to
Talk with supervisor/senior faculty– understand local expectations– understand community expectations
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Focus your efforts : pick a bar
you are in your dream job– figure out what makes the locals happy
your goal is to become well-regarded in the SE community– likely since you are here– if you do that, tenure will be easy– and you will be movable
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Focus your efforts : on impact
emphasize high quality research
choose service where you can make a difference
teach to prepare your research students
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Creating Time : It’s not easy to say no for many people
same goes for not volunteering
Saying yes to something that is not on your plan – is saying no to something on your plan
Making no easier– say "let me think about it" – "if I say yes to this, then I need to give up that”
N O
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Creating Time : hiding
You must plan blocks of time to think deeply
Schedule no-teach days
Establish a meaning for open and closed doors
Working elsewhere– home, coffee shop, library, …
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Using Time : doubling upTeaching and research
– I find it tough to under invest in teaching– I still futz over my compiler slides after 10 years– leverage the investment to learn something new
Reviewing and research– Accept review offers that are well aligned with your
research, skip ones that are far afield– Don’t worry they will ask you again
Committee service and student selection– Admissions gives a heads up on new recruits
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Using Time : meetings
To meet or not to meet?– essential– dangerous time consumers
When you meet try the following– Establish an email free zone– Organize the meeting– Demand preparation– Stop a meeting once it becomes unproductive
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Students & Time : first contact
They are the joy of your existence, but
Temper your enthusiasm in taking on a student– engage with caution– consider a trial period with specific objectives– don't hesitate to cut ties if it doesn't work
Unfocused/unmotivated students can be an enormous time sink
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Students & Time
Help them manage their time– it will help you manage your time– it’s part of training a good research student
Share these ideas and your own thoughts with them
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Students & Time : meetings
Setting meeting expectations with students– think about the role of meetings
• the weekly meeting vs. a project meeting
– talk about what you expect from them– give them ownership and responsibility for the
meeting
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Students & Time : strength in numbers
Build a network of support – Don’t be the bottleneck
Foster student to student interactions
Exploit co-advising relationships– lots of additional benefit here for you and student
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Any good tips out there?
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Any questions?
