Stages of small group development by Bruce Tuckman
In school, we often need to form new learning teams or professional research teams.
A new team may not necessarily perform to expectation in the beginning.
In 1965, Bruce Tuckman shared about his group developmental model in his article ‘Developmental Sequence in Small Groups'.
The below is a short videoclip about the developmental model.
In this short article, we will explore Tuckman’s group development model briefly.
Forming
This is the stage where a new team is being formed.
Most of the new members are polite since they may be working together for the first time.
Most members may have some anxiety as they may not know what they would be working on and the roles that they would play.
As the facilitator, you need to help members to create the rapport needed as they work together.
There is definitely effort needed to know one another.
Establishing expectation
Identifying common goals and objectives
Building rapport
Developing trust
Identifying similarities of team members
Storming
During this stage, conflicts may start to appear due to different working styles and opinions.
Team members may not agree to the leader/facilitator and they may challenge them.
Team members who tries to follow the task given may experience obstacles like unsupportive members due to lack of bonding.
Team members may also be uncomfortable with the amount of workload given for being in the team.
Express differences in opinions and ideas
Challenge leadership
Identify possible resources
Trying to establish communication
Compete for position as they clarify their roles
Unable to see a common goal
Norming
Team members start to resolve their conflicts and differences.
They can identify and appreciate the strengths of individual team member.
They start to socialise and assist one another with a stronger commitment to a common goal.
Facilitator starts see progress with the current task.
The problems of storming stage may appear again when the team is given a new task.
Nevertheless, team members may be able to establish decisions through negotiation since they have already built rapport by now.
Agreement of roles and processes
Able to negotiate and reach an agreement
Able to socialise with better bonding
Progress in current task
Performing
Team members are able to cooperate and work to achieve the common goal.
Structures and processes are able to support this stage effectively.
Facilitator can delegate different tasks and concentrate on developing members.
It is a breeze to work as a team during this stage.
Appropriate controls are used to find solutions to problems
Able to achieve desired results
Members can work well as a team
Mutual care and trust are established
Interdependent of team members
Establishment of a common identity
Adjourning
This can be a difficult stage where the team is disbanded due to various possible reasons like completion of task within a fixed period or restructure of organisation.
It is also a time to look at past achievement when they are working as a team.
Future working relationship can be easily established due to positive experience in previous team when members have opportunities to work together again.
In conclusion
As a leader or facilitator, the awareness of the different stages of development of the team enables us to make the necessary interventions during forming and storming stages.
It is definitely a fact that the success of a project needs active participation of all the team members.
Team members would also have developmental growth through collaborative learning.
Reference:
Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological bulletin, 63(6), 384.
Tuckman, B. W., & Jensen, M. A. C. (1977). Stages of small-group development revisited. Group & Organization Studies, 2(4), 419-427.
Disclaimer: This is my personal reflection and I am not in any position to instruct anyone what they should do. I am not responsible for any action taken as a result of this post. My post can only be a reference for your further research and growth. By reading this post, you acknowledge and accept that. All images and pictures were taken from google images that are free from copyright under labelled for reuse.
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