PART ONE: ORIENTATION, HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF THE THEORY Introduction Small Group Research The Past and Some Needs for the Future Groups as Complex Systems Overview of the Theory PART TWO: THE THEORY IN DETAIL Group Formation Assembly and Emergence Local Dynamics Coordinating Members, Tasks and Tools Global Dynamics Stability and Change within the Group System Contextual Dynamics Adaptation of the Group to Multiple Embedding Contexts Metamorphosis Endings and Transformations PART THREE: ISSUES AND STRATEGIES Implications of Our Theory for Constructing a Research Program Some Research Strategies for Studying Groups as Complex Systems