The Nature of Time This dimension defines the basic concept of time, kinds of time and its importance and measurement. According to Schein(992), monochrnic cultures are characterized by time planning; people believe that time can be treated as a n object and manipulated; the length of activities can be measured in terms of take the time they to complete. Polychronic cultures are characterized by development times people believe that time cannot be slowed-down or speeded up, and"things will take as long as they will take. Time is open-ended and can be extended into the future.