Study Abstract
General Topic
The study “From Coworkers to Friends” by Sias and Cahill focuses on peer friendships and analyzes their impact on employees’ personal and professional lives. The literature devoted to friendships at work is also analysed regarding relevance to the article’s subject. The literature presented as part of this paper also shows that previous research has focused chiefly on friendships and intimate relationships within the context of interpersonal communication and interaction.
However, sufficient research has not analyzed the influence and importance of workplace friendships. In addition, the article studies transitions involved in developing workplace friendships (Sias & Cahill, 1998). These stages included a coworker, close friend, and best friend phases in the interpersonal relationships of the employees involved.
Methodology
This research methodology consisted of interviews with 46 participants, representing 23 workplace friendships. Interviews with 8 participants were not analyzed due to technical problems, narrowing the sample to 38 participants, representing 19 friendships (Sias & Cahill, 1998). Twenty-seven of these respondents were female, and 11 were male. All participants were recruited by undergraduate and graduate students attending the Advanced Organizational Communication class. Data from the sampling population were analyzed using the Retrospective Interview Technique.
Findings
At the time the interviews were conducted, it was found that participants’ friendships lasted for 4.7 years on average (Sias & Cahill, 1998, p. 284). Twelve friendships were female/female, four were male/male, and three were male/female (Sias & Cahill, 1998, p. 284). When asked about the development stages of their friendships, most participants confirmed experiencing the same transitions discussed in this study.
Most respondents reported that reaching the first transition took them about 12 months. The second transition was reached 31 months after the initial meeting, and the third transition was reportedly reached after four years had passed from the participants’ first meeting. Several individual and contextual factors were confirmed to play a significant role in developing employees’ friendships.
Implications
These results indicate that the workplace environment does not merely act as a “container” for friendly relationships at work, but is highly influential in the process of employees’ friendship development. Another implication these results have for workplace friendships is that they can help achieve a more equitable distribution of power. Finally, the results of this study have significant implications for contributing to the academic research on peer friendships among employees.
Article Discussion Questions
Two questions can be proposed to facilitate understanding and discussion of the article and the topic of workplace friendships. I believe that the first question should delve deeper into the variety of the exact factors involved in the friendship development process. It should therefore ask: “What are the main contextual and individual factors that play a part in developing peer friendships at work?” This question will allow a more thorough insight into what impacts friendly relationships between employees and how to promote a favorable work environment where these friendships can strengthen and grow.
Another question that can help to understand the topic comprehensively and completely is to deal with the interpersonal outcomes associated with each major factor, both contextual and individual. Therefore, it can ask: “What are the outcomes and consequences of each major contextual and/or individual factor influencing the development of peer friendships at work?” Answering this question can also provide a deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of these factors in relation to work processes and the general atmosphere at the workplace.
Reference
Sias, P. M., & Cahill, D. J. (1998). From coworkers to friends: The development of peer friendships in the workplace. Western Journal of Communication, 62(3), 273-299. Web.