Groups, Teams, and the Division of Labor — Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Organization of Work

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to survey and critique this varied landscape of research on groups at work, drawing out common themes and selective weaknesses with the goal of suggesting a more synthetic and informed future agenda. Our discussion is not encyclopedic, but rather focused on three quite different research traditions: those based in psychology, in industrial relations, and in critical sociology. We outline the intellectual landscape of each case and highlight areas of agreement and disagreement. We argue that this project of cross-disciplinary theory building encounters substantial challenges, but is rich in potential. These traditions differ in their theoretical assumptions, research questions and methods, and outcomes of interest. Nonetheless, we suggest that building a more multi-disciplinary research agenda is worthwhile and conclude with suggestions for further work in this direction.