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Task Bubbles, Artifacts, Shared Emotion, and Mutual Focus of Attention: A Comparative Study of the Microprocesses of Group Engagement

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  • Anca Metiu

    (ESSEC Business School, 95021 Cergy-Pontoise, France)

  • Nancy P. Rothbard

    (The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104)

Abstract

Based on a comparative field study of two software development projects, we use ethnographic methods of observation and interview to examine the question of how interdependent individuals develop and maintain mutual focus of attention on a shared task, which we define as the group engagement process. Drawing on Randall Collins' interaction ritual theory, we identify how mutual focus of attention develops through the presence of a task bubble that focuses attention by creating barriers to outsiders and through the effective use of task-related artifacts. Shared emotion both results from mutual focus of attention and reinforces it. Through our comparison between the two projects, we show that the group engagement process is enabled by factors at the individual (individual engagement), interaction (frequency and informality of interactions), and project (compelling direction of the overall group) levels. Our focus on group interaction episodes as the engine of the group engagement process illuminates what individuals do when they are performing the focal work of the group (i.e., solving problems related to the task at hand) and how they develop and sustain the mutual focus of attention that is required for making collective progress on the task itself. We also show the relationship between the group engagement process and effective problem solving.

Suggested Citation

  • Anca Metiu & Nancy P. Rothbard, 2013. "Task Bubbles, Artifacts, Shared Emotion, and Mutual Focus of Attention: A Comparative Study of the Microprocesses of Group Engagement," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 455-475, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:24:y:2013:i:2:p:455-475
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1120.0738
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Paul M. Leonardi & Diane E. Bailey & Casey S. Pierce, 2019. "The Coevolution of Objects and Boundaries over Time: Materiality, Affordances, and Boundary Salience," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(2), pages 665-686, June.
    2. Tori Y. Huang & Vangelis Souitaris & Sigal G. Barsade, 2019. "Which matters more? Group fear versus hope in entrepreneurial escalation of commitment," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(11), pages 1852-1881, November.
    3. Mark Mortensen & Martine R. Haas, 2018. "Perspective—Rethinking Teams: From Bounded Membership to Dynamic Participation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 341-355, April.
    4. Slavova, Mira & Metiu , Anca, 2015. "Ritualization and the Process of Knowledge Transfer," ESSEC Working Papers WP1511, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.
    5. Christensen, Peter Holdt & Foss, Nicolai J., 2021. "Present-but-online: How mobile devices may harm purposeful co-presence in organizations (and what can be done about it)," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 84-94.
    6. Serhan, Carole & Nader, Rami & Gereige, William, 2023. "Modeling the effect of continuity and change as paradoxical forces in the inter-generational transition process of family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(4).
    7. Cristina B Gibson & Patrick D Dunlop & John L Cordery, 2019. "Managing formalization to increase global team effectiveness and meaningfulness of work in multinational organizations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(6), pages 1021-1052, August.
    8. Mark Mortensen, 2014. "Constructing the Team: The Antecedents and Effects of Membership Model Divergence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 909-931, June.
    9. Mira Slavova & Anca Metiu, 2015. "Ritualization and the Process of Knowledge Transfer," Working Papers hal-01184948, HAL.

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