Co-constructing a Sense of Community at Work: The Emergence of Community in Coworking Spaces. Issue 6 (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garrett, Lyndon E.; Spreitzer, Gretchen M.; Bacevice, Peter A.
• Other Names: Weeks John guest-editor.; Ailon Galit guest-editor.; Brannen Mary Yoko guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Organization studies. Volume 38:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 821
• Page End: 842
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: autonomy -- community -- coworking -- relational constructionism -- relationships; Organizational sociology -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Organization -- Periodicals; 302.35
• DOI: 10.1177/0170840616685354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0170-8406

Abstract

As more individuals are working remotely, many feel increasingly isolated and socially adrift. To address this challenge, many independent workers are choosing to work in coworking spaces – shared spaces where individuals do their own work but in the presence of others with the express purpose of being part of a community. In this qualitative, single case study, we analyze how members of a coworking space work together to co-construct a sense of community through their day-to-day interactions in the space. We apply a relational constructionist lens to unpack the processes of 'community work' as an interactive, agentic process. We identify three types of collective actions, or interacts, that contribute to a sense of community: endorsing, encountering, and engaging. These interacts represent different forms of community work that members interactively accomplish to maintain a desired community experience. The rapidly growing coworking movement offers insights, as uncovered in this study, on how to integrate a sense of community into the world of work.