The Tuckman Model of Team Development

Thanks to the Develop Team process, you now know how important Team Development really is. Also, as a Project Manager, it is extremely important for you to work in this area. This is where Bruce Tuckman comes in.

The Tuckman Model of Team Development also known as Tuckman Group Stages in certain texts talk about the development stages a team commonly goes through. These stages are,

1. Forming

This is the stage when team members meet and learn about the project as well as their formal roles and responsibilities. Typically, the team members are independent and not as open in this phase

2. Storming

This is the stage when team members begin addressing the project work and take technical decisions. Typically, the team members are not collaborative and open to differing ideas that makes the environment counterproductive

3. Norming

This is the stage when team members start adjusting their work habits and behaviors to support the team. Typically, this is where the team members begin working together and start trusting each other

4. Performing

This is the stage when the team starts working as a well oiled machine. Team members are interdependent and work through the issues effectively

5. Adjourning

You may not find this stage in certain texts but this is equally important. This is where the team members move on from the project as the work is complete. This typically occurs when the project team members are released from the project. This is a part of the close project or phase process

Important Points

1. It is common for these stages to occur in order but it is also possible for the team to get stuck in a particular stage or even return to an earlier stage
2. If the team members have worked together previously, they might skip a stage
3. The duration of a stage isn’t fixed and depends on team dynamics, team size and leadership. Thus the Project Manager must have a good understanding of team dynamics in order to effectively move the team members through all stages

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