Tuckman's Stages of Group Development(TSGD)

Introduction

Process of learning to work together in an effective way is called Team Development. Actually teams go through some definite stages during their development. 

The persons working in a team must be able to work together to contribute collectively As obviously, it takes time and does not happen automatically.

An elegant and very useful model of team development and behaviour was given by an American Psychological Researcher named Bruce wayne Tuckman. He was one who carried out his research on theory of 'Group Dynamics'. 

Tuckman had identified only four stages and taking all them together he published a Theory called Tuckman's Stages of Group Development(TSGD) in 1965 but later he added fifth stage in 1977. 

These stages named by him were Forming,Storming,Norming,Performing and Adjourning.

Stages of Team Development

According to the model prepared by Tuckman overall stages are five in numbers. These are discussed below and team progress through these stages is shown in the following picture.

A. Forming

It is the very first stage of the model.It involves the following points

1.Team meets and learn about the opportunity and challenges.

2.There is a high dependency on the main person or leader for guidance and direction. 3.Roles and responsibilities of individual are not clear.

4.Each member attempts to become oriented to the task.

5.The leader is fully prepared to answer a lot of questions about the team's purpose/objective/aim and external relations.

B. Storming 

The most difficult and critical stage of team development to pass through.

It involves following points.

1.When it comes to make group decisions there can be seen a lack of agreement.Every member of team attempts to establish himself and his position in relation to others. 2.Members may disagree on team goals and the Subgroups and Cliques may form around the areas of agreement.

3.Members form opinions about the character and integrity of other members.

4.Clear picture of team's purpose arises but many uncertainties also persist.

5.Energy is put into some unproductive activities which may cause decrement in team performance.

C. Norming 

After getting through the storming stage and the conflict is resolved now comes this stage. It involves following points.

1.Degree of Unity emerges,a sense of cohesion and Unity emerges.

2. Members learn to co-operate and start focusing on team goals which increases team performance.

3.Roles and responsibilities of each individual are clear and accepted by each of them.

4.There are are group agreement for Big decisions and small teams for few individuals for small decisions. 

5.All members now take the responsibility and have ambition to work for the success of team's objectives.

D. Performing 

By going through previous stages the team has now understood everything very well.

It involves following points.

1.Now the team is organised,well functioning and matured.

2.It has very clear and stable structure as team knows now why it is working in what it is working for.

3.No any participation from leader is required as the team is now independent to work but members of team may ask for assistance from leader with personal and interpersonal development.

4.Problems/Difficulties/Conflicts Still continue to arise But now these are dealt with constructively.

E. Adjourning

This is the final stage of Tuckman's group development model.

1.Almost every Goal/Objective of the team has been accomplished.

2.Actually,it is a break-up of the group once the task is accomplished successfully and its purpose is fulfilled.

Let's understand this with practical implications

Suppose you are asked to work on a project with your friends, first you will get to know each other, you will want to know on which project you want to work.

You as the team's member are introduced to each other. The most important role in this scene will be of the leader, because he will tell you everything. Now, when all the work will be told to you, Here starts Storming stage you will keep your own views, every member will want other members to listen to only his views and his thoughts must be given priority. Your views may be different from that of everyone and may be people with ideas similar to your ideas can come to make a group with you.

A war of ideas appears in this situation.

Now when everyone gets to know each other's thoughts then a situation will come where all of you people will support each other, Here Norming stage has come to picture.You will understand your roles, now you will have only one objective/the purpose of that team. After passing all the previous steps, you are all set to welcome the performing stage as you have now fully understood what you have to do, you have made well-organized teams, you have understood the work in a better way, now you will not need any leader for more information

Though problems will still come, but you will solve them in a great way.  When you achieve the objective of the team, then absolutely you will leave that team, this will be the last stage of this model.This will be the Adjourning stage.