At least fifty percent of its resources are devoted to maintaining a worldwide cross-cultural research and development capability. This research guides the development of materials and methods for applications and ensures that the most up-to-date designs are available to SYMLOG Practitioners and to those with whom they work.

SCG was formed in 1983 by Robert J. Koenigs and Margaret A. Cowen in direct relationship with the author and inventor of SYMLOG, Robert Freed Bales, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. Dr. Koenigs worked closely with Professor Bales as a faculty member at Harvard and was among the first professionals to use SYMLOG in applied settings outside of the laboratory where it was developed. Margaret Cowen has been an integral part of the transition from laboratory to practical applications and is responsible for many of the foundation pieces which make up the SYMLOG system today.