The Sociology of Working Together

The Sociology of Working Together

By: Phil Youngblood, PhD

This year we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of The Science Circle by working together online on a large, complex, project to demonstrate the multiple strengths of our group.

Working well with others can be challenging. In this presentation I will examine three factors that affect the outcome of teamwork – managing projects, developing teams, and individual characteristics. I will also consider whether working together in the same physical space or working online makes a difference.

Project Management

—How did theories of modern project management come about and how did they evolve?

—How does the end goal of different types of projects affect the process of managing?

—What activities are conducted during different phases of the project lifecycle?

—How does our Science Circle Project Moon Base differ from traditional projects?

Team Development

—How did team development theories develop as an instance of studying group dynamics?

—What can team members generally expect to observe as their teams develop?

—What is the role of community in team development?

—How can team members help to move a team towards working well together?

Individual Characteristics

—Perceptions of supervisor-worker relationships.

—Matching leadership and followership styles.

—How might demographics influence communication?

Working Together Online

—What are the differences between school, an internship, and a work environment.

—What lessons did employers learn about remote work during the pandemic?

—How is work conducted in a mediated communications environment?

For those interested in the theories behind the presentation:
Project Management: I will integrate project management models empirically developed over the last 75 years or so from analyzing successes and failures.
Team Development: I will primarily refer to Tuckman’s stages of team development devised in 1965 and continually refined since then.
Individual Characteristics: I will summarize conclusions from my own research of virtual internships, combined with Hofstede’s study of cultural dimensions in the late 1960s.
Working Online: I will use conclusions from my own work, from studies during the pandemic, and testimony from experts I know.

Come join us, both to learn as well as to share your experiences and thoughts about the topic!