Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ The Dunbar Number as a Limit to Group Sizes

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
What is the ideal size for an online group? According to this item, somewhere in the range of 45-50 people. It's an interesting article, looking at group size in primates, weblog analyses, Ultima Online guild sizes, and more. "Anything more than this (45-50) and the group has to spend too much time "grooming" to keep group cohesion, rather then focusing on why the people want to spend the effort on that group in the first place -- say to deliver a software product, learn a technology, promote a meme, or have fun playing a game. Anything less than this and you risk losing critical mass because you don't have requisite variety."

Today: 0 Total: 2 [Direct link] [Share]

Image from the website


Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

Copyright 2024
Last Updated: Nov 08, 2024 12:30 a.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.

Force:yes