Dyad Vs. Triad Creative Groups

Dyad Creative Team

Triad Meeting

If one were to take a poll at my office to inquire if employees consider creative ideas and resolutions are gained in groups of 2 vs 3 I think the office would be somewhat split.  George Simmel had a "Social Geometry" theory that numbers influence the experience of interaction within a group.  Although this might be quite true, in the case of the two interactions depicted in the photos displayed above the parties involved would probably prefer the setup of their meetings rather than the opposite.  For example in the top photo depicting a dyad or two person group the creative designers are making a final decision on the dress of a princess doll.  This project is rather small and the decision would become more complicated if another individual were involved offering their opinion.  The Triad meeting below however which consist of three individuals discussing the fall window display.  As Simmel expresses in his theory one of the third parties in this meeting is a director thus ultimately outranking the other two.  Although the director knows those facts he is relying on the coordinator and the manager to collectively present various ideas in which from that information he will make his final decision.  In comparison with the Dyad there is less room for conflict as there are only two to disagree on a matter.