SMALL TEAM OR GROUP

Small Team or Group

Small Team or Group

Introduciton

Teamwork is effective cooperation among the members of a work team. Teamwork depends on a team's success in coordinating individual members' specialized roles and expertise, which in turn depends on key interpersonal and self-management skills needed for teamwork.

Whether it is a project, work, or management team, all teams change over time. Research on team development aims to understand what this change looks like, why it occurs, and if there is a certain pattern that underlies the evolution of all teams.

a) Stage models propose that groups progress through several developmental stages that are distinguished by specific behavioral patterns. Theorists argue that groups move from one stage to the next stage in a sequential and predictable way of linear progression. In 1965, Bruce Tuckman summarized much of the existing conceptualizations of team development in his model of forming, storming, norming, and performing. A fifth stage, adjourning, was added in 1977, when he refined his model together with Mary Ann Jensen. Although Tuckman's model is the one that is most often used, other conceptualizations exist as well. For example, Susan Wheelan has identified similar stages: orientation, conflict, structure, and work. Since Tuckman's conceptualization of the stages of team development is the one most often used for both research and practical purposes, this model will be outlined below in more detail.

b) Forming

When a team has just been formed, members have to become familiar with one another and the team as a whole. In this stage, team members rely on safe interaction patterns and avoid conflict. Communication in this phase is generally polite, and team members look to the leader for guidance and direction. Gradually, as team members become more acquainted with each other, disagreement will arise as the team moves to the next stage.

c) Storming

The second stage is characterized by conflict. Team members start questioning the procedures of the team as a whole, as well as those of the leader. Disagreements are openly expressed about both workrelated issues and interpersonal tensions and animosities. A risk of polarization and coalition formation exists in this phase of the development of teams. However, these disagreements should be resolved when the team enters the next stage.

d) Norming

In the norming stage, team members reach agreement about the roles and standards within the team and relationships between team members become established. This leads to an increased sense of cohesiveness and unity, as ...