关键词: 齐美尔中介行为, 子群体, 合作, 社会网络

Abstract: Subgroups are a common structural feature of organizational teams, yet research on subgroup dynamics has tended to emphasize the conditions under which subgroup differentiation generates conflict, rather than examining how individuals who occupy positions across subgroup boundaries actively manage relationships between subgroups. This study addresses this gap by introducing Simmelian brokerage behavior into the study of subgroup cooperation and by distinguishing between two different forms of such behavior: Simmelian connection behavior and Simmelian separation behavior. Rather than treating brokerage simply as a structural position, this study conceptualizes brokerage as a behavioral process through which individuals can either connect otherwise separated subgroups or maintain and reinforce their separation.
The first major contribution of this study is conceptual. Building on the Simmelian perspective on social structure and the classic distinction between different forms of brokerage, the study develops the construct of Simmelian brokerage behavior. Simmelian brokerage differs from conventional brokerage because the broker is embedded in cohesive subgroups while simultaneously occupying a position between them. This structural condition creates a distinctive behavioral opportunity: the broker possesses access to multiple subgroups while being socially anchored within them. The study therefore moves beyond the conventional assumption that brokerage is inherently beneficial and asks a more specific question—what does a broker among subgroups actually do with the structural position created by Simmelian brokerage?
The second contribution is the differentiation of Simmelian brokerage behavior into connection and separation. Simmelian connection behavior refers to actions through which a broker facilitates interaction, information exchange, coordination, and mutual understanding across subgroup boundaries. By contrast, Simmelian separation behavior refers to actions through which a broker preserves, strengthens, or strategically maintains distinctions between subgroups. This distinction highlights that the same structural brokerage position can generate substantially different behavioral consequences. It also provides a behavioral explanation for why brokerage does not necessarily produce uniformly positive outcomes. In this sense, the study shifts the analytical focus from “whether an individual occupies a brokerage position” to “how the individual uses that position.”
The third contribution lies in explaining the differentiated effects of these two behaviors on subgroup cooperation. Simmelian connection behavior is expected to facilitate subgroup cooperation by reducing communication barriers, increasing cross-subgroup interaction, and promoting the exchange and integration of heterogeneous resources and information. Through these processes, the broker can transform disconnected or weakly connected subgroups into more coordinated collective actors. Simmelian separation behavior, in contrast, emphasizes the maintenance of subgroup boundaries. This distinction highlights that the same structural brokerage position can generate substantially different behavioral consequences. It also provides a behavioral explanation for why brokerage does not necessarily produce uniformly positive outcomes. Simmelian separation behavior is oriented toward self-interested gain: by keeping subgroups apart, brokers pursue personal informational and control advantages, which eventually breed inter-subgroup frictions and undermine cooperation. By examining both mechanisms within a theoretical framework, this study provides a more nuanced account of how subgroup cooperation is shaped by brokers among subgroups.
Overall, the study extends the concept of Simmelian brokerage from a structural position to a behavioral construct, distinguishes connection and separation as two theoretically meaningful forms of Simmelian brokerage behavior, and explains their differentiated implications for subgroup cooperation. This study adopts a social network perspective to identify individuals who simultaneously participate in cohesive subgroups and span the boundaries between them. This approach makes it possible to connect the structural characteristics of subgroup networks with the behavioral distinctions proposed in the study. In doing so, the research links network structure, individual brokerage behavior, and subgroup-level cooperation within a unified analytical framework. These findings offer a new theoretical lens for understanding subgroup coordination and provide practical implications for organizations seeking to manage internal differentiation, improve cross-subgroup collaboration, and balance subgroup identity with collective cooperation.

Key words: Simmelian brokerage behavior, subgroups, cooperation, social network