Record and transcribe the exchanges between members of the group, team, or organization at one or more of its meetings. Use the following questions and illustrations to guide your work: 

a. Who opens the meeting? Who takes notes? Answering these questions should tell you something about the leadership of the meeting, as well as the role of one or more of the group members. 

b. In general, who says what to whom and with what effect? Answering this question may help you isolate particular relationships and power structures. 

c. Pay close attention to exchanges of conversation - both on-topic and off-topic- that occur during the meeting. What are the exchanges about? What do they say about the role and relative power of the group members? What is the role of silence in the group? Is anyone excluded from the talk? 

d. What is the function of humor in the group, if any? 

e. What clothing do the group members wear to the meeting? Is there a relationship between their clothing and the conduct of the meeting (e.g.,formal, informal)? 

f.Does the group use a particular style of language? For example, is it highly technical? Does it contain a lot of jargon or slang? Can you tell "who is in the know" just by listening? Can you tell who isn't? Is there any attempt to mentor newer group members? Are there any metaphors that recur in the group and seem to suggest a common understanding? 

g. What other affiliations or associations can you assume characterize these group members' lives outside of this meeting? How much of those extra- meeting cultures are brought into the culture of the meeting? 

h. How do the meetings end? Are assignments made? Are they equitably apportioned? How much does expertise play a role in the assignments? How about friendship