Sticking together: the glue role and group creativity

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce the concept of the “glue role” in groups engaged in creative tasks. An individual crafts a glue role by seeking out and taking on otherwise neglected tasks that have the potential to facilitate a creative group's performance. We adopt a negotiated order perspective on roles in groups to examine how a group's emerging social structure provides opportunities for crafting the glue role. We then suggest two mechanisms through which the glue role can facilitate performance in creative groups: the coordination of group members' contributions and the management of group conflict.

Citation

Bolinger, A.R., Bonner, B.L. and Okhuysen, G.A. (2009), "Sticking together: the glue role and group creativity", Mannix, E.A., Goncalo, J.A. and Neale, M.A. (Ed.) Creativity in Groups (Research on Managing Groups and Teams, Vol. 12), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 267-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1534-0856(2009)0000012013