Summary : Tuckman's Model of Group Formation

Hi guys,

As you know, I'm doing CIMA. It is an awesome learning experience. The first thing I learned for EM is the Tuckman model of team formation. What I have done here is this; I have gone through the marking schemes (recent ones) for answers to questions on the Tuckman model of team formation and abstracted bits and pieces of information that are common to all answers. It's somewhat a list of things that MUST be there for an answer on the Tuckman model. As you guys already know, knowing the stuff is not enough - it is all about application. (So make sure you repeat the name of the company as many times you can in the answer :P:P:P)
I've italicized the words that are core to every answer.

Please feel free to download this and use it as study material for your exams. And please do shout out in the comments if I have missed anything important !!! Hope to do this for all major topics !!  Cheers !!!  :)

Tuckman's Model of Group Formation

Introduction

1. The Tuckman Model aims at improving, [the communication between team members] and [the understanding of project objectives by all team members] so that the team becomes effective in performing towards its objective 
2. The Tuckman Model ensures that effective teams are created by the linear progression across several team development stages

Forming Stage

1. Individual members come together to find out about each other's attitudes, abilities and backgrounds.
2. Objectives of the team are established
3. Roles of team members are established
4. Relationships between team members identified
5. Members discuss "how the group is going to work"

Storming Stage

1. Period of disagreement, argument and emotional dispute between team members. (Group cohesiveness is low)
2. Team members get to know each other better, by presenting views and approaches on how best to achieve team's objectives
3. Members may have different views and approaches that would result in conflict
4. Cultural conflicts emerge.
5. More realistic targets are set as a result of conflict and differences of opinion.

Norming Stage

1. Conflict resolution
2. Establishing guidelines, procedures and standards for behaviour in group 
3. Team members reach unanimous agreement on how the group is going to work via negotiation, compromise and areas of commonality
4. Norms of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour are set
5. Team cohesiveness increases
6. Team agrees on the standards of performance

Performing Stage

1. Team focuses on the achievement of the team objective, rather than on resolving conflicts
2. Team cohesion will be high
3. Team performance will be governed by the norms set in the previous stage

Adjourning Stage

1. Project comes to an end and team disbands
2. Lessons learned report is drafted

Other factors that affect Team performance/effectiveness

1. Ensuring team members have proper skills and attitude
2. Goal clarity
3. Role clarity
4. Leadership
5. Supervision of performance

References

The marking schemes of :

• May 2012 Question 6 (b)

• November 2011  Quesion 7 (b)