Teamwork: Group Development and Team
Team Paper: Tuckman 's Stages of Group Development
Teamwork is defined as the process of working collaboratively with a group of people, in order to achieve a goal (Teamwork, 2011). Before a team works collaboratively together, team development must take place. In 1965 an American psychologist named Bruce Tuckman published a theory called Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development. These stages include Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Tuckman believes that teams must go through these phases to grow and produce results. Years later Tuckman revisited the theory and added the “adjourning” phase. Once one has a clear understanding of each phase, he or she will know that working through the phases of team development will aid in team success
The first phase of Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development is forming. “In this stage, the group becomes oriented to the task, creates ground rules, and tests the boundaries for interpersonal and task behaviors. This is also the stage in which group members establish relationships with leaders, organizational standards, and each other” (Bonebright, 2009). As the phase name suggests, this where the group “forms.” It is during this first phase that the stage is set for the success of the team. It can be compared with one-on-one first impressions. The initial group forming sets the tone for future group interaction. Individuals come into a group with their own set of strengths and weaknesses and also their own biases. In order for a team to be successful, they must learn to work cooperatively together. Team cooperation is established in the forming stage. Team members may already be acquainted or they may use the forming stage to become acquainted. Interpersonal interaction is important for a good group rapport, which is integral to project success. It is important for team members to get along personally so that they can work successfully toward a common team goal. In the forming phase team members must also be informed and
Teamwork is defined as the process of working collaboratively with a group of people, in order to achieve a goal (Teamwork, 2011). Before a team works collaboratively together, team development must take place. In 1965 an American psychologist named Bruce Tuckman published a theory called Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development. These stages include Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Tuckman believes that teams must go through these phases to grow and produce results. Years later Tuckman revisited the theory and added the “adjourning” phase. Once one has a clear understanding of each phase, he or she will know that working through the phases of team development will aid in team success
The first phase of Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development is forming. “In this stage, the group becomes oriented to the task, creates ground rules, and tests the boundaries for interpersonal and task behaviors. This is also the stage in which group members establish relationships with leaders, organizational standards, and each other” (Bonebright, 2009). As the phase name suggests, this where the group “forms.” It is during this first phase that the stage is set for the success of the team. It can be compared with one-on-one first impressions. The initial group forming sets the tone for future group interaction. Individuals come into a group with their own set of strengths and weaknesses and also their own biases. In order for a team to be successful, they must learn to work cooperatively together. Team cooperation is established in the forming stage. Team members may already be acquainted or they may use the forming stage to become acquainted. Interpersonal interaction is important for a good group rapport, which is integral to project success. It is important for team members to get along personally so that they can work successfully toward a common team goal. In the forming phase team members must also be informed and
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