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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Personal effectiveness

A finance assistant spends most mornings checking personal messages and then rushes to finish urgent reports in the afternoon. Which time management technique would most directly help her focus on tasks that are important but not yet urgent?

Using a priority matrix that classifies tasks by urgency and importance is best. It lets her plan important but non-urgent work in advance, rather than reacting to deadlines, whereas longer hours or instant replies do not address how tasks are prioritised.

  1. ASorting tasks using a priority matrix of urgency and importanceCorrect
  2. BWorking longer hours to clear the backlog
  3. CDelegating all reports to a colleague
  4. DReplying to every message as soon as it arrives

Explanation

A priority matrix (urgent/important) separates tasks by urgency and importance, so she can schedule important but non-urgent work before it becomes a crisis. Working longer hours or answering messages immediately does not change priorities, and delegating everything is impractical and avoids the underlying habit.

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