Understanding Work Teams From a Network Perspective: A Review and Future Research Directions

Abstract

As social network theory and methodology advance, scholars in multiple fields have increasingly become interested in examining work teams using network perspectives. Social networks not only enabled work team researchers to theorize about interdependencies and the dynamic interplay of team components (i.e., individuals, dyads, and whole teams) but also provided a methodological tool kit with which to operationalize and test hypotheses about such interdependencies. To this end, the purpose of this article is to conduct an integrative review of organizational teams research that has adopted a social network perspective to highlight what is known and what remains to be addressed. We then outline an agenda for future research that introduces three promising areas to guide researchers to move the field forward. We conclude that a more thorough integration of the networks and teams literatures offer great promise for advancing both our science and practice.