Structuration Theory from Theories of Small Group Communications

Structuration Theory
Structuration Theory distinguishes between systems, such as small groups, and structures, the practices, rules, norms, and other resources the system uses to function and sustain itself. When applied to small groups, Structuration Theory views small groups as systems that both produce structures and are produced by structures. This means that group members follow particular rules in their interactions that produce some sort of outcome. That outcome eventually influences the group's future interactions.

Structuration refers to the processes group members employ as they work together. Structures both produce a system (in this case, a group) and are outcomes of a system. For example, suppose a committee decides to meet every second Wednesday of the month from 2:30-4:00 p.m. This regular meeting is a rule ("The committee will meet every second Wednesday of the month from 2:30-4:00 p.m.") that the group produced (and is thus an outcome of group interaction) as well as an instrument for producing the group. Other structures include methods of voting, norms of interaction, leadership styles, decision-making procedures, and rules for distributing the group's workload.

According to Structuration Theory, group members interact according to particular rules, and those group members also produce those rules through their interactions. This suggests that group members can negotiate group structures, yet at the same time, their interactions are constrained by those structures. For example, group members may decide to take turns leading each group meeting. The group member in charge of a particular meeting constructs and distributes the agenda, reminds others of the meeting, and makes arrangements for the meeting room. However, if the group found this structure was not working (e.g., group members forgot when it was their turn to lead the meeting), members could consider changing their procedures. Still, group member interactions may be constrained by the original structure, particularly if members A and B fulfilled their leadership duties and members C, D, and E did not.

Structuration theorists are interested in the way group members enact structures in their interactions. So structuration researchers observe group interaction directly. Researchers have examined the way group members' attitudes affect the structuration process, the influence of different types of structures on group decision-making and problem-solving, institutional constraints on group structures, and appropriated structures (those taken from other sources, such as majority rule in voting) and those that are unique to the group.

One strength of Structuration Theory is that it examines structures in action by focusing on the structuring process. Thus, attention is on small group interaction and how group members appropriate, adapt, create, and maintain rules and resources. Second, Structuration Theory is applicable to a variety of small groups, not just those that perform decision-making and problem-solving functions. In this way, Structuration Theory can help us understand an array of small groups, from corporate committee to self-help groups. Third, Structuration Theory takes into account environmental forces that may impinge on group processes.

It has its strengths, but Structuration Theory suffers from several weaknesses as well. First, Structuration Theory to date has not provided a way of predicting which circumstances will result in the development of particular structures. That is, Structuration Theory is largely descriptive in nature. Second, because structures are both system producers and the outcome of systems, it is difficult to research structuration in small groups. Researchers must examine group member communication as they put structures into action, as well as the structure that arises from that interaction. Third, the very definition of structuration implies that group structures change over time. Yet, it is often difficult to pinpoint which structural changes occurred and when by examining group interaction on a day-to-day basis. Last, research in Structuration Theory relies primarily on case studies. Structuration Theory can be adapted to individual cases, but because it is flexible, it is difficult to make generalizations based on Structuration Theory.