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The Functional Perspective as a Lens for Understanding GroupsMichigan State University, gwittenb{at}msu.edu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Iowa
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
London Business School
Leiden University, The Netherlands
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The functional perspective is a normative approach to describing and predicting group performance that focuses on the functions of inputs and/or processes. The aim of theory and research from this perspective is to understand why some groups are successful and others are not. This article investigates theory and, to a lesser extent, research of small groups based on the functional perspective. The authors present the underlying theoretical assumptions and review theories that fit into the functional perspective from several representative areas of research. They conclude by outlining notable strengths and weaknesses associated with viewing groups from this perspective and propose some directions for future theory development.
Key Words: functional theory • group performance • group decision making
Small Group Research, Vol. 35, No. 1,
17-43 (2004) This article has been cited by other articles:
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