Cross Functional Teams in the New Third Place

Lecturer: Constance Steinkuehler, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Lecturer (2nd): David Simkins, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In this presentation, we discuss the form and function of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) in terms of social engagement and collaborative problem solving. In it, we present a theoretical framework for understanding the extent to which such virtual worlds are structurally similar to Oldenburg’s (1999) “third places” for informal sociability, their potential function in terms of social capital (Coleman, 1988; Putnam, 2000), and the role of collaborative problem solving within such spaces. By providing spaces for social interaction and relationships beyond the workplace and home, MMOs have the capacity to function as one novel form of a new “third place” for informal sociability much like the pubs, coffee shops, and other hangouts of old. As such, participation in such virtual “third places” appears particularly well suited to the formation of bridging social capital – social relationships that, while not usually providing deep emotional support, do typically function to expose the individual to a diversity of worldviews. Moreover, the forms of collaborative problem solving – such as “instances” or raids – that participants engage in as a regular part of gameplay share important structural features with cross-functional teams (Fredericks, & De Lia, 2005; Lindborg, 1997; Michalski, 2005; Parker, 2002), a form of collaborative problem-solving that characterizes many of today’s “new capitalist” corporate workplaces such as those found in global financing or technology. In this talk, we describe empirical analysis of such collaborative problem solving activities in game and discuss the ways in which, through participation in such collaborations, individuals build social and cultural capital within their social networks both, online and off. Implications for research on cognition, learning, and online communities are highlighted.

Intended Audience: Designers interested in social dynamics, user cognition & learning
Prerequisites: None
Format: Lecture
Date/Time: Thursday, 4:00 PM
Room: Senate