A Review and Technological Consideration of the Bona Fide Group Perspective

Abstract

Although group research has explored a variety of new theories, methodologies, and technologies over the past three decades, the bona fide group perspective is still a meaningful framework for understanding how groups interact with context. In this review essay, the bona fide group perspective is introduced and publications since the perspective’s inception 25 years ago are reviewed. Additionally, future research paths are explored, displaying how this perspective is useful for investigating the influence of technological advances on group member participation, specifically in terms of presence.

An Examination of Group Facilitator Challenges and Problem-Solving Techniques During IEP Team Meetings

“…Overseeing varying team compositions, student needs, and parental involvement levels requires a unique, complex set of facilitation skills. The ability to facilitate such a group dynamic has not been directly investigated by previous literature and requires researchers to embrace an interdisciplinary, longitudinal, and evolving theoretical perspective (e.g., Beck, Bourdeaux, DiTunnariello, & Paskewitz, 2016).…”

Widerstand im Arbeitsprozess

“…Zum anderen führt die Gleichsetzung der Begriffe Gruppe, Kleingruppe, Primärgruppe, Clique, formale und informale Gruppe, Formalität und Informalität bis heute zu großen Verwirrungen, unter deren Folgen auch eine allgemeine Kleingruppensoziologie leidet (König, 1963;Wilson, 1978). Neuerdings scheinen große Teile der angloamerikanischen Kleingruppensoziologie, allen voran die Bona-Fide-Gruppenforschung (zusammenfassend Beck et al, 2016), hinter ein differenzierendes Erkenntnisinteresse und die Betonung der Organisation als strukturgebendes Moment zurückzufallen. Auch sie behandeln organisational gerahmte Kleingruppengebilde als allgemeinen Fall und wiederholen damit vermutlich das Problem der Gleichsetzung informaler Erwartungszusammenhänge mit Kleingruppenformen.…”

A Multi-Level Analysis of Role Negotiation: A Bona Fide Group Approach to Work Team Socialization

“…Applying a BFGP facilitates a more comprehensive multi-level examination of work team socialization. A BFGP recognizes naturally occurring groups are embedded in larger contexts and includes communication beyond the internal group interactions (Beck et al, 2016). Because individuals are simultaneously members of multiple groups in which group membership and boundaries are ambiguous and flexible (Putnam & Stohl, 1996), a BFGP indicates socialization is influenced by communication within the group, by group members' participation in other groups, and by overlapping memberships in external groups (Kramer, 2011).…”

“…According to a BFGP, groups, such as work teams, are interdependent with their context and although they appear relatively stable, they have changing memberships and permeable boundaries (Putnam & Stohl, 1990). A BFGP emphasizes the importance of communication between individual team members, as a collective team, with other individuals and groups within the organization, and with individuals or groups in the broader external context (Beck et al, 2016). The BFGP indicates a comprehensive understanding of role negotiations during work team socialization involves examining individual, workgroup, organizational, and extra-organizational interactions (Scott & Myers, 2010).…”