Case Studies
Case Studies
Susan went through her pile of “to-do” lists, checking off item after item. Done,
done, done, done, done, done. With each flick of the pen, one more task was
lifted from her shoulders. Then she copied the tasks that remained on to a new
list: To- Do
1. Get status of annual sponsorships
2. Write personal thank you letters from last event
3. Recruit new leaders from community (must!)
4. Ensure the training for new volunteers is done this week
5. Submit budget report to National Office, which was due…like,
yesterday…
6. Meet with staff to brainstorm ideas to sell annual sponsorships She
paused in dismay. These were all the most critical priorities! What had
she been doing when she should have been completing these tasks? She
glanced at her outlook schedule; yesterday there was that meeting with
Tony that she really didn’t have to go to. Then she and Shelley spent the
rest of the morning discussing the office supply situation. She had a
meeting with Lisa to help her with the revenue report and Major Donor
prospect plan. That and promptly returning e-mails during lunch, took
better part of the afternoon. She had done everything she was supposed
to in using her time better. Made schedules and “to- do” lists, screened
her calls and returned them all at once- and now everyone else was
going home, and she hadn’t even really started! What was the point of
all her careful time management when she still was overworked and
frenzied?