| Resource 11: How to form groups |
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What
stages do groups go through?
Tuckman and Jensen's stages in
group formation
The terms are pretty self explanatory.
When a group is forming, participants can feel anxious not knowing how
the group will work or what exactly will be required of them. Storming,
as the word suggests, is when things may get stormy. Conflict can emerge,
individual differences are expressed and the leader's role may be challenged.
The value and the feasibility of the task may also be challenged. After
the storm comes the calm of norming, where the group starts to function
harmoniously and where participants co-operate and mutual support develops.
This enables the performing stage to occur where the work really takes
off and the group accepts a structure and method for achieving the common
task. When the group retires or adjourns, much learning happens through
informal chat and feedback about the group performance. Tuckman and Jenson
recognise that when groups dismantle themselves and the loose ends are
all tied up, participants often go through a stage of mourning or grieving.
This model is useful to know, so
that when your group appears to be going nowhere or perhaps members are
arguing so much that no work can be started, you understand that this is
normal! Most groups go through these phases. Understanding this pattern
empowers you to work towards moving the group onto the next phase
Activity for individual reflection
or as a group discussion following any group activity. May be used following
W1
DGB (Developing Effective Group Behaviour Exercise)
Think of a group that you have recently
been involved with. Considering each stage of its development, can you
recall any evidence of these stages?
A Forming
B Storming
C Norming
D Performing
E Retiring/Adjourning
F Mourning/Grieving
Do you recall any significant learning
which took place outside of formal rehearsals and performances?
Are you aware of any of your colleagues
who experience the mourning stage acutely? If so, what might you do to
support them?
You have now analysed your group's
formation using Tuckman and Jensen's theory. This should give you a good
idea as to whether your group is progressing well towards being an effective
group ? or maybe it has already arrived at the performing stage. If so,
congratulations! Many groups remain at the storming stage and find it difficult
to achieve their goals.
If your group is just beginning
to form, Tuckman and Jensen's comments should help you to recognise the
stages, which may either help or hinder you from progressing to the next
level. It would be useful to discuss with your group members how best to
move forward.
References
You might think that forming a
group is simply about choosing to work with some of your friends. However,
when you work together in a specific group activity your relationship with
each other needs to become professional. Before this can be achieved, the
group may go through certain stages. Consider whether Tuckman and Jensen's
suggestions below fit your own experience of group work.
Tuckman and Jensen draw on the
movement known as group dynamics, which is concerned with why groups behave
in particular ways. This offers various suggestions for how groups are
formed and how they develop over time. The formation of some groups can
be represented as a spiral; other groups form with sudden movements forward
and then have periods with no change. Whatever variant of formation each
group exhibits, they suggest that all groups pass through six sequential
stages of development. These stages may be longer or shorter for each group,
or for individual members of the group, but all groups will need to experience
them. They are forming, storming, norming, performing, mourning and retiring.
· What was the task?
· Did you all share the
same expectations of the task?
· Did you all have the same
attitude to working in a group?
· Did you feel any anxiety
at the outset of the activity?
· Was there any conflict
in the group?
· Did you all agree on the
means of carrying out the task?
· Did you have a leader
and was his/her authority challenged?
· Did any group members
withdraw from the group?
· Did you move on to agree
methods of working?
· Did you have a common
goal?
· Did you cooperate with
each other?
· Did you work out how to
proceed at all? (If not, you were probably still storming.)
· Did everyone take on a
functional role to achieve the task?
· Did you work constructively
and efficiently?
· Did the group's activity
focus on fulfilling the task?
· Did you experience a sense
of achievement?
· Did you stop abruptly
and all go your separate ways or did you finish the task and then go off
together and socialize?
· Did you talk about the
group and your experience of it?
· What sort of issues did
you discuss or think about after the group activity?
· Was it more or less acceptable
to give and receive feedback in a relaxed atmosphere when adjourning?
· Have you experienced the
mourning stage following the completion of a show or project?
· Have you ever felt empty
or sad when a group activity has finished
· Why might some people
feel the mourning stage more acutely than others?
· How do you deal with your
own feelings after the project or show?
Tuckman, B.W. & Jensen, M.A.C.
(1977) Stages of small group development revisited. Group and