Small Group Networks

Observing Small Group Dynamics

There is a distinctive context for social behavior found within these groups that can give analytical knowledge to advance the area of study. This results in the identification of norms that can potentially assign meaning to the behavior of a group and behaviors within the group. These norms then become expectations with respect to the differentiation and integration of activities and their allocation of group member roles. The setup and administration of such norms diffuse throughout the network, which then fosters the social process, which in turn creates the need for small group network analysis. Various cultures carry their own group behavioral expectations. For example, American culture contains an ideology of the small group. This ideology is expressed in day-to-day conversation about social relationships, interaction of members of the society, and in outlets of communication.

Beyond norms, there are critical insights on team experience that can be derived from the analysis of small group social networks. When members of a team have experiences together, they then begin to leverage the relationships, increase productivity, and increase opportunities for synergy among its members. This can result in a differentiation strategy in itself through the understanding of such a phenomenon. As interactions increase, personal relationships develop between those participants. These patterns and communication networks create benefits for an organization, whereby performance improvement increases as the longevity of the team increases.

Preexisting social groups may prove beneficial for better understanding and utilizing small groups. A social group is two or more people who influence one another over an extended period of time through direction interaction. Social groups in organizations benefit their members by providing information resources, emotional resources, and identity support for those involved. Social groups can also benefit the organization by [Page 782]coordinating individual participation, organizing productive work, and providing opportunities for specialized learning. In order for groups to perform any of these functions, members must effectively communicate with one another. Such patterns of communication are another key area for analysis and can be leveraged for successful strategic approaches within a unit of study.

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