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Dunbar's Number and Scaling

  • Human groups function optimally below approximately 150 members; beyond that, trust and cohesion degrade.
  • Social relationships exist in layers: a core of five intimate bonds, fifteen close, fifty cooperative, and a maximum of 150.
  • Small groups rely on trust, reputation, and peer accountability rather than rigid rules and enforcement.
  • Keep core committees to 15 to 20 active members for focused work, and the entire cadre under 150.
  • Dunbar's Number is a design principle, not a rigid cap, that keeps relationships real and mutual support a lived reality.[1]

References

  1. Dunbar's number. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number

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